Science! By Ryan Whitwam Dec. 31, 2013 3:10 pm
Over 200,000 people jumped at the chance to be considered for a one-way trip to the Red Planet when Mars One started its search last year. Today the organization has announced it has narrowed the list to just 1058 potential settlers who are apparently prepared to live the remainder of their lives (no matter how short) on the surface of Mars. Now comes the problem of getting them there…
Mars One, founded by Dutch business owner Bas Lansdorp, aims to land a crew of six colonists on Mars by 2023. According to Lansdorp, the initial mission will have a price tag in the neighborhood of $6 billion, which has been cited by numerous experts as profoundly optimistic. The first Martians will be supplied with greenhouses, living spaces, and all the other supplies needed to survive on Mars’ barren surface. What they would not be supplied with, is a way home.
Hello neighbor!
The selection process and mission are being planned like a massive reality show. The public will get to choose the crew of six, but Mars One reserves the right to make the final call. Lansdorp claims advertising revenue will fund the initial mission and any future trips that take more colonists to Mars. At this stage, the first wave of participants (at least some of whom paid application fees) will be tested physically and mentally for the trip, but the likelihood of Mars One reaching its goal seems remote.
The company has reportedly contracted Lockheed-Martin to work on a feasibility study for the mission based on the NASA Phoenix lander. Mars One also claims it will use SpaceX rocket technology to get to Mars, but SpaceX has made clear there are no deals in place at this time. In a recent AMA on Reddit, Lansdorp was unable to offer any further details on the low budget for the mission or the lack of technological grounding — things got a little nasty.
We may simply not know enough about life in space and on Mars to make this work at any price right now. Those 1058 people are at least willing to give it a shot, though.
More...
Mars One, founded by Dutch business owner Bas Lansdorp, aims to land a crew of six colonists on Mars by 2023. According to Lansdorp, the initial mission will have a price tag in the neighborhood of $6 billion, which has been cited by numerous experts as profoundly optimistic. The first Martians will be supplied with greenhouses, living spaces, and all the other supplies needed to survive on Mars’ barren surface. What they would not be supplied with, is a way home.
Hello neighbor!The selection process and mission are being planned like a massive reality show. The public will get to choose the crew of six, but Mars One reserves the right to make the final call. Lansdorp claims advertising revenue will fund the initial mission and any future trips that take more colonists to Mars. At this stage, the first wave of participants (at least some of whom paid application fees) will be tested physically and mentally for the trip, but the likelihood of Mars One reaching its goal seems remote.
The company has reportedly contracted Lockheed-Martin to work on a feasibility study for the mission based on the NASA Phoenix lander. Mars One also claims it will use SpaceX rocket technology to get to Mars, but SpaceX has made clear there are no deals in place at this time. In a recent AMA on Reddit, Lansdorp was unable to offer any further details on the low budget for the mission or the lack of technological grounding — things got a little nasty.
We may simply not know enough about life in space and on Mars to make this work at any price right now. Those 1058 people are at least willing to give it a shot, though.
More...
