A colony on Mars will be the 'next giant leap for mankind'

Bas Lansdorp, CEO and co-founder of Mars One, is nothing if not bold. His dream is that the stuff of science fiction -- not solely does he wish to place humans on Mars in 2025, however he desires to depart them there to establish a self-sustaining settlement. And he plans to fund the enterprise, in part, by televising everything from pre-mission coaching to daily life on the red planet. Or the maximum amount because the colonists wish U.S.A. to see, anyway, as they will ultimately be in control. As you can imagine, he is a reasonably fascinating guy to speak to, that is why we were psyched to have him on this website to articulate his vision, and what he hopes it will mean for humanity.


Building a personality's settlement on Mars does not simply sound difficult, it sounds nigh on unrealizable. But, as Lansdorp explains, the technology that might permit the Mars One project to succeed already exists, therefore it isn't as far-fetched a goal because it would possibly at first seem. And, of course, the set up is not only to blast a rocket within the right direction and hope for the simplest. the primary Mars One probe is attributable to land in 2018, and 2 years later, a rover is predicted to start out exploratory survey out potential colony sites. In 2022, life support systems and varied essential instrumentality are going to be sent to Mars earlier than the primary manned mission, regular to launch in 2024.

Technically, the conception may be sound, however with most investment needed, why even bother? To Lansdorp, it's simple: "Progress." the explanation we're such a triple-crown species, he says, is as a result of we're continually pushing the boundaries, and Mars One is simply an excuse to indulge our collective ought to explore. He conjointly hopes the journey can do one thing to unify the planet, too, transportation everybody along through "one common goal." simply maybe, sending people to Mars can inspire kids to need to be astronauts once more, "not popstars," and by televising the journey of the primary off-world settlers, we will live it with them. "It's virtually following big leap for human race."

The biggest obstacle to Mars One's success isn't the technology concerned, according to Lansdorp, however finding the proper people for the job. After all, it is a one-way ticket, and therefore the team dynamics can ought to be excellent to allow the colony any likelihood of thriving. The explorers that may eventually be selected and trained over the course of following decade are going to be place through some rigorous tests before being sent into area. a part of that coaching can involve living in an exceedingly mock colony, interrupt from all support, with issues unnaturally inserted into the case -- including what is apparently one of the toughest things to deal with psychologically: A broken and smelly rest room.