Final Mars One Numbers Are In, Over 200,000 People Applied 176
An anonymous reader writes "The first round of the Mars One Astronaut Selection Program has now closed for applications. In the 5 month application period, Mars One received interest from 202,586 people from around the world, wanting to be amongst the first human settlers on Mars."
Obligatory! (Score:2, Interesting)
I have a hard enough time on this planet, much less going it on the next farthest rock out!
On a serious note... as long as I had tasks and hobbies to entertain myself on the trip to Mars, I think I'd be fine. Getting along with people is the least of my problems. To me repititious boredom would appear to be the real killer. There is also that little psyche bit of knowing that you're on a one way ticket to an uninhabittable barren wasteland.
Of course, having a sense of adventure would probably help that!
Re:202586 (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm pretty sure that being picked as one of the lucky few does not suddenly rob you of the right to say you've changed your mind when you see the rocket put together by the cheap brand of duct tape. On the other hand, this publicity stunt might actually make people in power realize that there are people out there who will volunteer despite the risk, and that maybe it's worth a try after all.
Re:202586 (Score:5, Interesting)
True, but it's a decision you'd want to make earlier-than-later.
Deciding to at least start the program is a life-changing thing. For example, I doubt you'd be able to keep your job so that means losing your job AND your home since you couldn't afford payments past X months.
So let's say they talk a great game and it looks like they have their "act" together. They have scientists, their mockups look sound, etc.
A hypothetical 2 years period goes by while you're training and what-not... and you realize WOW these people do NOT know what they're doing. Their ships aren't going to be able to get 10ft off the ground let alone make it to Mars. These conditions are not going to last more than X months let alone the planned Y decades. These people have no idea what they're doing.
So you quit... and now what. You're unemployed and homeless... and when asked about the 2 year gap on your resume you labeled a psycho for thinking that Mars One (now known as a cluster-f#@k) was actually going to happen.
Step 2: (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Can't we just send them all? (Score:5, Interesting)
What, they'll build Australia 2: Outback Harder?
Re:Can't we just send them all? (Score:4, Interesting)
I want to live forever. Or at least long enough that I don't want to anymore. The problem is, that's not an option. When I was young(er) and (more) naive, I believed that maybe we finally live in a time where technology and medicine would advance fast enough that I wouldn't have to suffer death, at least not for a long, long time. It's become apparent that that's not the case. Why not do something fantastic before the inevitable?