Ultimate Travel … to Mars
The organization behind this enterprise is Mars One and there are already more than 165,000 people who applied for the one way trip to Mars.
“Mars One is a not-for-profit foundation that will establish a permanent human settlement on Mars in 2023. Human settlement on Mars is possible today with existing technologies. Mars One mission plan integrates components that are well tested and readily available from industry leaders worldwide. The first footprint on Mars and lives of the crew thereon will captivate and inspire generations; it is this public interest that will help finance this human mission to Mars.
The Mars One mission plan consists of cargo missions and unmanned preparation of a habitable settlement, followed by human landings. In the coming years, a demonstration mission, communication satellites, two rovers and several cargo missions will be sent to Mars. These missions will set up the outpost where the human crew will live and work.
The mission design takes into account the expansion of the human colony where a new crew arrive every two years.”
The link for applying is https://apply.mars-one.com, and the deadline is August 31.
And the first question from the FAQ on the site:
Is this for real?
Yes it is! Mars One has been working on this project in secret since January of 2011. It has taken us until May 2012 to expose it publicly because we are then certain of its technical feasibility and means of finance.
A manned mission to Mars is expensive. We plan to fund it by making it the biggest media spectacle in history. This way, everyone will get the chance to not only watch the astronauts make their journey, but choose who gets to do so. Four people, icons, who will leave their life on Earth behind and start an adventure on a new planet tens of millions of miles away.
Twitter @curbexcitement