I was astonished at the beginning of last year when I read about a project to send volunteers on a one-way ticket to Mars.
It astounded me even more when I read that thousands of people were interested in taking part in the mission. What kind of people would sign up for this?
Well, my questions have now been answered. Mars One has published details of all the people (over 200,000 of them) who asked to be considered for the first manned flight to Mars.
A shortlist has been drawn up and will eventually be narrowed down to 24 people. The Mars One project hopes these will establish human life on Mars by 2025.
It’s fascinating to look at some of the young British students who have been chosen for the shortlist.
Danielle Potter, 29, a Phd student at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, says: “I fight cancer by day and style hair by night. I’m an energetic, fun loving person that just wants to make a difference.
“I feel that this trip could lay the foundations for humans to further evolve by colonizing another planet.”
Ryan MacDonald, 20, a physics student in Oxford, says: “I’ve always been interested in space and science. Physics is all about trying to work out what the heck is going on!”
Hannah Earnshaw, 22, a student studying astronomy at Durham University, says: “Space travel has been a dream of mine for a very long time. Mars is a challenge. It is highly risky, and an enormous responsibility as well as an adventure, and I hope to do it justice.”
Wow, there are some very brave people! I can’t wait to see what happens.
https://applicants.mars-one.com