It’s been almost two years since Mars One started taking applications for people who wanted a free one-way ticket to the red planet, in order to set up an inflatable habitat and settle off-world forever and ever. Out of the 202,586 applicants, the non-profit group of scientists and entrepreneurs says the finalists competing for 24 total spots have been winnowed down to a (lucky?) group of 50 men and 50 women. And again, of course the whole thing is going to be a reality TV show.
The group announced in a press release today that after conducting online interviews with the trip’s chief medical officer, 100 hopefuls will be going to the next round of the Mars One Astronaut Selection Process. The foundation is seeking to establish human life permanently on the planet, with the goal of getting the project off the ground as early as 2024.
There are now 39 people from the America, 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, seven from Africa and seven from Oceania who will now be focused on “composing teams that can endure all the hardships of a permanent settlement on Mars.”
To do that, candidates will train in the replica Mars Outpost here on Earth, and will have to show how suited they are to work together as a team.
“The large cut in candidates is an important step towards finding out who has the right stuff to go to Mars,” said Bas Lansdorp, Co-founder & CEO of Mars One. “These aspiring martians provide the world with a glimpse into who the modern day explorers will be.”
If you don’t know already, you can check the complete list of finalists here. For those who didn’t make the cut, there’s still hope you can be shot into space and never come back: There will be a chance to really this year in another round of applications.
The Mars 100: Mars One Announces Round Three Astronaut Candidates [Mars One]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
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