Mars One: Human Martians?

If you haven’t yet heard, there is mission to Mars that is has been under the spotlight recently. The project, proposed by Bas Landorp, is called Mars One, and is currently undergoing preparation and development, and is in the midst of its candidate selection program. Many Canadians have applied to join the mission, although there are obvious risks involved in addition to the fact that they would very likely never return to Earth.

Due to its similarity to Earth, there is constant speculation that life was previously existent on Mars many years ago. Research shows that life is possible on Mars. Mars is the second smallest planet and is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is a terrestrial planet; soil on Mars contains nutrients essential for the growth of plants. The minerals on Mars include oxygen and silicon, as well as other metals and minerals which are found in rock. The iron oxide on the surface of Mars gave it the name “Red Planet.” Water is typically frozen on Mars, but there is evidence that liquid water has existed in the past.

Mars One mission proposes a one way trip to Mars. It takes eight years of training and eight months of travel. It involves groups of four astronautical settlers arriving on Mars within two years of each other. The settlers on Mars will be able to live in small homes and grow their own vegetables. Outside, they will have to wear Mars suits. The goal is to build a sustainable human civilization on Mars with functioning technology. Along with a common superstition of Martians, if the project succeeds one day we will have human Martians.

Learn more about Mars from: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/
For more information on the mission, read: http://www.mars-one.com/mission/humankind-on-mars
Read the CBC article here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/one-way-trip-to-mars-attracts-almost-7-000-canadians-1.1322098