Around 200,000 people have sent their applications for a one-way trip to Mars. That's right, a one-way trip to the red planet, in a mission establish a human colony called the Mars One project. This was set-up by a Dutch non-profit organization focused on building a settlement on Mars starting on 2024.
So who are these brave, adventurous, pioneering, and possibly outrageous individuals who could be representing our race in the vastness of space? Well, according to Smithsonian.com, the backgrounds of the shortlisted applicants range from astronomers, to high school teachers, to cab drivers. To give you an idea, here are the brief profiles of the lucky few who made the first cut:
Meet Zac Trolley, a 31-year-old engineer from Calgary, Canada. Since he was a child, he has been dreaming of going to space. He saw the Mars One project as a great opportunity to fulfill his dream.
Possibly joining Trolley in this expedition is Melissa Ede. Ede is a 52-year-old transgender who works as a cab driver from Hull. In an interview with Mirror News, she said "There were so many people who were academics or studying space travel, I'd love to make history as the first transgender person to go to Mars."
Another hopeful candidate is Danielle Porter. A native of Manchester, Porter is 29 years old and works as a hairdresser while pursuing her Phd in cancer research. Although she considers this opportunity as a historic event, her family is not so happy with her possible upcoming trip, according to ITV. In fact, they're planning on launching a petition in their hometown to stop her from going to Mars.
In a report by the Moscow Times, the United States has the largest group that made the initial cut with 297 applicants. This was followed by Canada with 75. Applicants from India and Russia totaled 62 and 52, respectively. These people will then be subjected to various selection phases to test their mental, physical, and emotional capabilities.
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