[melonhead]

So I only just found out about this?!? A non-profit organisation named Mars One is planning to send a team of four to colonise Mars in the year 2024! I think the applications started in 2013 or something, but if I had only known about it then, I would have definitely applied. Something like 200,000 people applied for it, and the are down to 100. These 100 people will go through more testing to cull it down to 6 teams of four. These teams then become full time employees of Mars One!

Now starts the years of training and team-building to give them the skills necessary to survive on Mars, and keep their outpost functional etc. They will be also be doing simulations all over the world in remote locations to get used to to fact that they will be separated from the rest of the world, also to train for the harsh realities of life of Mars.

Oh, there is no return flight either. Once you are there, you are a Martian! I think this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Im not sure when the applications will open again, but I know once they do, I'm going to be first in line! Every two years after the first team arrives, another team of four will be sent up.

If you want more info, check out their site, http://www.mars-one.com
( they will have access to the internet too, so thats good )

What do you guys think? Would you apply to be pioneers of Mars??

[EmperorMagus]

melonhead, on 17 February 2015 - 05:57 AM, said:

So I only just found out about this?!? A non-profit organisation named Mars One is planning to send a team of four to colonise Mars in the year 2024! I think the applications started in 2013 or something, but if I had only known about it then, I would have definitely applied. Something like 200,000 people applied for it, and the are down to 100. These 100 people will go through more testing to cull it down to 6 teams of four. These teams then become full time employees of Mars One!

Now starts the years of training and team-building to give them the skills necessary to survive on Mars, and keep their outpost functional etc. They will be also be doing simulations all over the world in remote locations to get used to to fact that they will be separated from the rest of the world, also to train for the harsh realities of life of Mars.

Oh, there is no return flight either. Once you are there, you are a Martian! I think this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Im not sure when the applications will open again, but I know once they do, I'm going to be first in line! Every two years after the first team arrives, another team of four will be sent up.

If you want more info, check out their site, http://www.mars-one.com
( they will have access to the internet too, so thats good )

What do you guys think? Would you apply to be pioneers of Mars??

If I thought there was the smallest chance that I would be chosen I would apply. No doubt about it whatsoever.

[melonhead]

EmperorMagus, on 17 February 2015 - 07:10 AM, said:

melonhead, on 17 February 2015 - 05:57 AM, said:

So I only just found out about this?!? A non-profit organisation named Mars One is planning to send a team of four to colonise Mars in the year 2024! I think the applications started in 2013 or something, but if I had only known about it then, I would have definitely applied. Something like 200,000 people applied for it, and the are down to 100. These 100 people will go through more testing to cull it down to 6 teams of four. These teams then become full time employees of Mars One!

Now starts the years of training and team-building to give them the skills necessary to survive on Mars, and keep their outpost functional etc. They will be also be doing simulations all over the world in remote locations to get used to to fact that they will be separated from the rest of the world, also to train for the harsh realities of life of Mars.

Oh, there is no return flight either. Once you are there, you are a Martian! I think this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Im not sure when the applications will open again, but I know once they do, I'm going to be first in line! Every two years after the first team arrives, another team of four will be sent up.

If you want more info, check out their site, http://www.mars-one.com
( they will have access to the internet too, so thats good )

What do you guys think? Would you apply to be pioneers of Mars??

If I thought there was the smallest chance that I would be chosen I would apply. No doubt about it whatsoever.

As far as I can tell from the website, the applications focus a lot on mental strength and the ability to work with others. If you are chosen then they teach you all you need to know. of course it would definitely help to have a few relevant skills, but it seems like everyone has a chance. Even with a very slight chance of return, you would still apply?

[Tarthenal Theloman Toblakai]

currently the funding is at about 0.001% of it's target though, so it's quite a way off to being reality. If they don't do it I think somebody will. Absolutely awesome idea and opportunity for sure. It would be so hard to literally leave everything and everyone behind though! As long as I can still get Subterranean Press to deliver my lettered Malazan books to Mars, i'd be ok. Although with the delays and what not, i probably could have walked to Mars by the time my House of Chains arrives lol

[EmperorMagus]

melonhead, on 17 February 2015 - 07:18 AM, said:

As far as I can tell from the website, the applications focus a lot on mental strength and the ability to work with others. If you are chosen then they teach you all you need to know. of course it would definitely help to have a few relevant skills, but it seems like everyone has a chance. Even with a very slight chance of return, you would still apply?

Why would I not. It's one of the few professions that actually means something. You don't "waste" your life colonizing Mars, you know that every second you live there means that you're making human race's expansion into space more likely.

[Aptorian]

I imagine that something goes horribly wrong during the early missions. Every subsequent team sent up to mars will be eaten by the now feral colony of crazy martian mutants.

[melonhead]

EmperorMagus, on 17 February 2015 - 08:29 AM, said:

melonhead, on 17 February 2015 - 07:18 AM, said:

As far as I can tell from the website, the applications focus a lot on mental strength and the ability to work with others. If you are chosen then they teach you all you need to know. of course it would definitely help to have a few relevant skills, but it seems like everyone has a chance. Even with a very slight chance of return, you would still apply?

Why would I not. It's one of the few professions that actually means something. You don't "waste" your life colonizing Mars, you know that every second you live there means that you're making human race's expansion into space more likely.

Yeah I totally get that. I would love to be part of something that big. It would be so awesome. Very interesting to, doing all the research and stuff into Mars history.
I only asked again because I asked a couple of my friends the same question and the majority of them said they wouldn't do it. One of them said he likes his creature comforts too much, and leaving family and friends behind is the other major factor for them.
I love my friends and family, but I would still definitely go for it. A chance to do something like that is so rare.

[melonhead]

Apt, on 17 February 2015 - 01:00 PM, said:

I imagine that something goes horribly wrong during the early missions. Every subsequent team sent up to mars will be eaten by the now feral colony of crazy martian mutants.

Yeah that would be a bit of a disaster. And its only 1 team every two years, so those mutants would be goddam hungry by the time you get there

[Gorefest]

Not in a million years. My wife would kill me.

[melonhead]

Gorefest, on 17 February 2015 - 02:49 PM, said:

Not in a million years. My wife would kill me.

Sure, but youve got 2 years before she could get on the next team to get to Mars and kill you

[Gorefest]

You don't know my wife. If the incentive is high enough, she'd build a rocket herself in our back garden, pass ours on the way and be ready and waiting with suitably sharp implements when we land.

Besides, how would I keep track of the footie? I'll freely admit, the comforts at home are too big for me to risk on a groundbreaking one-way adventure into space to further humankind's development and dominion over space-time. Not sure that we are the most appropriate species to branch out into outer space and spread our culture to the stars. Too much idiocy to inflict on our potential neighbours Out There.

[Dolmen 2.0]

After reading The Martian by Andy Weir I'm painfully aware of the long list of mishaps brooding on that cold rusty planet.

I've always been fond of Sentient Orbital Frames and scantily clad martian princesses though...I'm also a fan of the grand botanical juggernaut we call the potato so I guess i'm 50/50 .

[melonhead]

Ha that would be fantastic. well in regards to the footie, you would have access to the internet, and you can request whatever you want to be uploaded to the Mars servers, so no problems there
Yeah I dunno if we are the most appropriate, but you cant stop progress. We will get out there eventually to inflict said idiocy onto others. That is unless we destroy ourselves first. Which is a distinct possibility.

This post has been edited by melonhead: 17 February 2015 - 04:08 PM

[melonhead]

Dolmen 2.0, on 17 February 2015 - 04:05 PM, said:

After reading The Martian by Andy Weir I'm painfully aware of the long list of mishaps brooding on that cold rusty planet.

I've always been fond of Sentient Orbital Frames and scantily clad martian princesses though...I'm also a fan of the grand botanical juggernaut we call the potato so I guess i'm 50/50 .

Cant say ive read it. To be honest the only reason I wanna go is for the slight chance there might be scantily clad martian princesses.

[melonhead]

Cajun King, on 17 February 2015 - 05:35 PM, said:

No way would I go until travel time is sped up and Domes are built with return options.

I suppose it is a long time in rather cramped conditions

[Gorefest]

Coincidentally they ran an item on this the other night, think it was BBC news. I saw one of the nutters (seemed like a lovely lady, don't get me wrong, just not the type I would trust with an interplanetary rocket) that was shortlisted for the trip, and I think I'll pass. This reeks of Ship B from the Ark Fleet in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

"Oh, no return option huh? Really? Not doable at all?"
"No, yeah, you see, erm...building a reverse gear would make the project, like, 50 times more expensive and we wouldn't be able to generate the backing."
"Right, right. So... why us?"
"Well, we think it is very important for the morale of future travellers to arrive on a planet where we already have windchimes set up and bouncy hippies."
"And how will we land once we get there? I don't think the selection criteria mentioned anything about piloting skills or astrophysics degrees?"
"Well, you sort of just crash into Mars."
"Okay then, as long as there is a plan!"

Plus apparently the project is the brain child of a Dutchman. I'm a Dutchman. I know from a lifetime of experience to stay away from things thought up by us.

This post has been edited by Gorefest: 18 February 2015 - 01:30 PM

[melonhead]

Gorefest, on 18 February 2015 - 01:21 PM, said:

Coincidentally they ran an item on this the other night, think it was BBC news. I saw one of the nutters (seemed like a lovely lady, don't get me wrong, just not the type I would trust with an interplanetary rocket) that was shortlisted for the trip, and I think I'll pass. This reeks of Ship B from the Ark Fleet in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

"Oh, no return option huh? Really? Not doable at all?"
"No, yeah, you see, erm...building a reverse gear would make the project, like, 50 times more expensive and we wouldn't be able to generate the backing."
"Right, right. So... why us?"
"Well, we think it is very important for the morale of future travellers to arrive on a planet where we already have windchimes set up and bouncy hippies."
"And how will we land once we get there? I don't think the selection criteria mentioned anything about piloting skills or astrophysics degrees?"
"Well, you sort of just crash into Mars."
"Okay then, as long as there is a plan!"

Plus apparently the project is the brain child of a Dutchman. I'm a Dutchman. I know from a lifetime of experience to stay away from things thought up by us.

Hmm crash landing aye, does sound a bit dodgy. but is it crash landing or "controlled descent?"
Probably more crash landing.
True, one of my good mates is a Dutchman and he is a bit mad. but that could be exactly what a project like this needs. A bit of madness.

[Maark Abbott]

My gut feeling is that, following that plume of dust that was seen there recently, the walkers will have heat rayed us into oblivion before we get there.

But the chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one.

[Gust Hubb]

So the people sent to Mars will be the last of humanity?

[melonhead]

The sole survivors of the human race will be 4 people in a tiny habitat on Mars. Id say there will be kids with 12 toes and 3 eyes running about real quick.