Life on Mars: would you leave it all behind?

Consider this question: if we can look up from Earth and know that human beings are living on another planet, will we ever again be able to tell ourselves that there is anything we can’t do?

Can you imagine never seeing the Earth again? Having to go away from family and friends for the rest of your life? This is a very real possibility for 100 hopefuls who have been shortlisted in the third round of cuts for the Mars One mission.

The mission to Mars, our closest planetary neighbour, is set to launch in 2025. With a travel time of just over nine months, one can only imagine how the crew will behave on the long journey. For those on board, it is a one way journey with no option of ever returning home.

The 100 people shortlisted on the 16th of February will be reduced to just 24 people by 2025, 12 men and 12 women, in order to be the very first people to ever set foot on an alien world.

Once there it will be up to these ordinary citizens to use their intense Mars One training to set up the colony in which they can live.

Out of 202,586 applicants, seven of the shortlisted people are Australian, 33 from the US, 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, seven from Africa and six from Oceania.

Many people believe that the applicants must be crazy or deluded in some way. The mission has sparked debate as to whether such people can successfully build a whole new society. Would you be willing to do it?

Crazy or not, the Mars One mission is hoping to reignite people’s interest in space, similar to how the Moon landing did nearly 50 years ago today.

Check out the promotional video for the Mars One mission:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxS7dCMBvSI

Do you think this is a good idea? Do you think it will get people excited about space travel again? Would you travel to Mars? Let us know in the comments below.