Mars One Applications Open For A One-Way Ticket To Mars

The privately funded Mars mission formally known as “Mars One” has recently opened up their application process for the required astronauts who will take a journey to the Red Planet about 10 years from now in the years 2022/2033, oh and this is no joke either, they’re very serious about sending people.

A team of four applicant will be assembled for the mission, consisting of two men and two women, then they will use tried and tested technology to grant them passage to our cosmic neighbor as the world watches on and history is made, at least in theory that is the missions intentions, but 10 years away is quite a long time for plans to change.

The team has a budget of £3.93 billion, not exactly loose change although the team have yet to disclose how this money has been divided up to the project and what development are still to be made, although it has been said that reality Tv deals and other sponsorships will play a big part, we just don’t know who, how and when those parts will fall into place.

Mars One CEO Bas Lansdort has remained optimistic despite the growing criticism, but this is a HUGE mission, with many questions to be answered and you can bet that every question will be asked, asked again and no doubt asked again before the mission takes place, but I’m sure Lansdort is more than aware of this. Either way this is a huge investment and one that could generate great returns for all involved via advertisements and sponsorship, but it’s already sounding more like an episode of Big Brother in Space rather than the military precision of NASA’s adventures.

“No new inventions are needed to land humans on Mars,” said Lansdorp during a press conference earlier this week, “There might be delays, there might be cost overruns, there might even be failures, but it can be done.” he continued.

The foundation intends to launch a robot demo mission in 2016, a rover to scout a settlement in 2018, a second rover in 2020 along with staged deliveries of settlement equipment. After this the rovers will essentially build the systems required to keep people alive on Mars, hopefully in time for the big arrival some time in 2023 as I’m sure 7 months in space will leave you wanting a nice little martian house to put your feet up in.

It sounds crazy I know, but given today’s technology vs that used in the 60’s to get a man on the moon, it’s really not that impossible to achieve. With the help of SpaceX and their Falcon Heavy Launcher, Dragon Cargo Spacecraft and the help of the ISS, a few rovers, a purpose built transit vehicle, special space suits, and four willing and talented astronauts and you’re practical there already.