The mission was proposed in May 2012. Today is the last day to apply online for the Mars One Project. So far more than 165,000 applications from over 140 countries to participate in the TV reality show.
The Dutch-based non-profit organisation is giving a chance to 40 aspiring astronauts to experience life on the red plant by offering them a one-way ticket in 2023. There is a small application fee depending on the country of residence. This fee is used to cover costs of this project.
Where are the applicants from?
USA is at the top of the list of countries where 23 % of most applicants are from. This is followed by China, Brazil, India, Russia, UK, Mexico, Canada, Spain and the Philippines.
Bas Lansdorp, CEO and co-founder of Mars One said: “The cultural diversity of Mars One applicants reflects the international nature of this project and ultimately makes it humanity’s mission to Mars.”
The application criteria
There is a stringent selection process in place to ensure minimum risk to the lives of the astronauts.
All applicants must be over the age of 18 and must be free from any disease and dependency on alcohol, drugs and tobacco. They should have general fitness and 100% or 20/20 eyesight corrected or uncorrected. The applicant’s blood pressure must not exceed 140/90 and their height should be between 157 and 190 cm.
The selection procedure
There are four rounds. The initial application contains general information about the applicant, a CV, a motivational letter and a one-minute video explaining why they should be selected to be the first inhabitants on Mars.
The second round will be the submission of a medical fitness certificate and an interview.
The third round will be broadcasted on the TV and the internet. The audience will select the winner per region. They will be given challenges to demonstrate their suitability.
In round four, the participants will have to demonstrate their ability to live in harsh conditions and work under difficult circumstances. The applicants will be tested on the basis of their characteristics of resilience, adaptability, curiosity, ability to trust and creativity or resourcefulness.
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