NASA plans to send volunteers on ‘ONE-WAY mission to Mars to colonise planet’

Humans could be sent one-way to Mars under ambitious plans being investigated by NASA to permanently colonise other planets in space.

Space agency officials confirmed feasability studies were under way to asses whether astronauts could be permanently sent to the red planet, or its moons, to establish human colonies.

The multi-billion pound mission, titled Hundred Years Starship, is being spearheaded by the Ames Research Centre, one of NASA’s main research centres, based in Moffett Field, California.

Officials from the Pentagon’s Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are also heavily involved in turning the science fiction idea into a reality.

Early estimates put the cost of such a mission, which has “just started” at more than £7 billion and could be achieved by 2030.

Scientists have been given £600,000 government grant – including £100,000 from NASA – to start research into the idea, according to US reports.

The world’s billionaire’s, including Larry Page, Google’s co-founder, have been asked to help fund the project.

Pete Worden, the Ames director, confirmed the plans to a conference in San Francisco at the weekend.

“You heard it here. We hope to inveigle some billionaires to form a Hundred Year Starship fund,” he told the Long Conversation event at the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

“The human space program is now really aimed at settling other worlds. Twenty years ago you had to whisper that in dark bars and get fired.

“Within a few years we will see the first true prototype of a spaceship that will take us between worlds.”

Such a space journey would take up to nine months with volunteers embarking on the mission knowing they would never return to earth.

This is because the cost of returning astronauts to earth would make the project prohibitively expensive. Supplies would be sent to make them self-sufficient.

Such a mission would be gruelling for humans with forbidding conditions including sub-zero temperatures and a thin atmosphere.

Mr Worden said Mr Page was keenly interested in the project.

“Larry asked me a couple weeks ago how much it would cost to send people one way to Mars and I told him $10 billion and his response was, ‘can you get it down to 1 or 2 billion’,” he said.

“So now we’re starting to get a little argument over the price.”

But he admitted that he did not know how such a mission would work in reality.

“How do you live in another world? I don’t have the slightest idea,” he said.

“If you’re a conservative, you worry about it killing us; if you’re a liberal, you worry about us killing it.

“I think things like synthetic biology have lot of potential for that. I think rather than make an environment on Mars like Earth, why don’t we modify life … including the human genome … so it’s better suited to [Mars]?”

A DARPA spokesman later confirmed details of the mission.

“A key element of the study is exploring models by which sustained co-investment by the private sector in these areas can be incentivised,” he said.

“The study is currently in the early formulation stage, but will be entirely open and unclassified, with more details forthcoming in early 2011.”

It comes as researchers claimed such a human mission was technologically feasible and was cheaper returning astronauts to earth.

Their new study, in the Journal of Cosmology, found the costs of safely returning a crew would eat up the majority of such a mission’s budget.

Dirk Schulze-Makuch, from Washington State University and Paul Davies, from Arizona State University, said four volunteer astronauts could undertake the first mission to permanently colonise Mars.

“A one-way human mission to Mars would not be a fixed duration project as in the Apollo program, but the first step in establishing a permanent human presence on the planet,” they said.

“There are many reasons why a human colony on Mars is a desirable goal, scientifically and politically.

“The strategy of one-way missions brings this goal within technological and financial feasibility.”

They added: “Nevertheless, to attain it would require not only major international co-operation but a return to the exploration spirit and risk-taking ethos of the great period of Earth exploration, from Columbus to Amundsen, but which has nowadays being replaced with a culture of safety and political correctness.”

Such a mission would come with natural “ethical considerations”, they admitted.

By Andrew Hough
Published: 7:30AM BST 28 Oct 2010

Source: The Telegraph

74 thoughts on “NASA plans to send volunteers on ‘ONE-WAY mission to Mars to colonise planet’”

  1. I volunteer, I believe that for our continual existence we must go to Mars and beyond. I’ll volunteer for this one-way mission to Mars. The human journey must began and I want to establish a foot hold on Mars.
    Lawrence R. Allison

    Reply
  2. Hi!
    I would like to know for how long people can stay alive in Mars and what they can do in there. Precisely, under which circumstances the volunteers will be living in Mars?

    Thanks,
    Golazin

    Reply
  3. You know what. Im pushing this issuse. Why im mentally physically capable. Of accomplishing the mission. With military experience. In my very early thirties. Im ready. So I contact nasa via email. No response. Sent ophra an email for show idea. No response. Im jumping up and down. Do you see me..

    Reply
  4. I volunteer, I’m a fresh high school graduate and my whole life I’ve dreamed of going into space no matter what it took and i knew that my generation would be there first to go to mars. I’m an above average male healthy and fit for such a mission.

    Reply
  5. I’m mentally and physically ready. I want to go. I have a degree in computer science, and I’m also a jack of all trades. I would be perfect for such a mission

    Reply
  6. I have never done anything with my life and this is my chance to do something for the good of mankind. Send me. I’m brave, courageous, and would love an adventure such as this.

    Reply
  7. From what I’ve seen looks like nobody has ever gone yet.
    but well I’ve wanted to be up there in space from the time I was a little kid.
    I’m 20 years old and have a degree in electrical and electronics engineering. If you guys need someone who knows how to work with electronics give me a holler
    [email protected]

    Reply
  8. If they have given me the opportunity to go a one way to Mars, I will, no doubt.. I’ll do it, I know there’s a risk, but this risk is nothing, cause I know I have one life to live, and I know not just for me.. but to all humanity..

    Reply
  9. If they have given me the opportunity to go a one way to Mars, I will, no doubt.. I’ll do it, I know there’s a risk, but this risk is nothing, cause I know I have one life to live, and I know not just for me.. but to all humanity.. here is my mailing address Blk-53 Lot-10 Soldiers Hills Village, Muntinlupa City; Philippines 1772

    Reply
  10. I’m willing to under go rigorous and tight training, cause I know this will be my last venture… No doubt about it…

    Reply
  11. I can’t split atoms but im a decision maker with common sense… would be a great opportunity to find out more about mars… besides its always the science guys that don’t fare too well in the films so i’ll take the role of ‘The cool risk taker’ but seriously im in..

    Reply
  12. Funny how they say one way, who’s to say that in 20 years or so we wont just be busing people back and forth from mars. The way NASA puts it is too nerve-wrecking for anyone logical to accept this task, anyone who volunteers is gonna be just a nut who’s gonna go mad in the 9 month journey, kill themselves off and waste billions of dollars. Unless the actual mission is an experiment to see what becomes of the human life span in mars and not sending anyone over again till the first settlers die.

    Reply
  13. I am a master mechanic, have done many construction skilled endeavors, have reasonable problem solving skills and have been told from phycological professionals that I have a genious I.Q.. Would love the chance to do something with my life that my children can be proud of and give them a chance to “shoot” for the stars.I think the 9 months in the “ship” will be a good environment to focus on the upcoming job of “living” on Mars. I have spent time in both extremes of environment (northern Canada as well as Death Valley) I do prefer the cool weather more. I have a pretty even keel and have not found much that “winds” me up. Again this is an opprotunity for me to do something “special” with my life and leave some history.

    Reply
  14. Hello NASA

    Let me know when and what time I should be there And how much clothing I need it with me and I am leaving anytime you call me you have the information let me know please

    MIRECK ADAM KULLITT

    Reply
  15. I was born ready, that would be the best experience and tough but with cannabis would make it more intriguing, won’t be a problem cause its not illegal in mars. this wanyways, this would be a great adventure for those who are willing to volunteer as i will. lets do it.

    Reply
  16. I need a change on my life, honesty i don’t care how big this change can be, im just a normal guy who wants to see out there and one way sounds good to me. everyone has a pass on ther lifes, mine keeps still been the same, i need to build a better future so i can have a better pass even if im not here to talk about it , i just need it on my life keep it for my self or way not?… Been always remembered so just call me im a volunteer.

    Reply
  17. Adam (Mireck) – You are a difficult man to track down! I’ll be in LA on Nov. 3. for one night before I leave for Maui. It’s been forever.

    Reply
  18. You are all nuts.. think about this.. most of you say you will go but. to leave your kids, your parents, your lives.. I think 99.9 % are all talk… did you read the chances of surviving in those conditions. You will die with in a year… Good Luck leave the smarts on earth the rest can go and freeze to death.. cause you will have nothing to build a shelter or get heat… and nothing to eat.. so they say they will send you stuff… i doubt it.. we are talking about NASA here and the Govnerment..

    Reply
  19. I’M READY ..LET’S GO get in touch let terra form so we have a back up from all the lunatic that so call gov..before they distroy the home planet

    Reply
  20. michael what are your chance to survive in today crazzyness….mother nature can put us in the ice age tomorrow did you know that……there is nothing more important for humans to expand there search,,,to save man kind from it self.
    If our ansesster would’n have taken dragstick measure ..what do you think

    Reply
  21. I will gladly volunteer and die on Mars. I’ll do anything I can to inspire people to change their outdated paradigms and perpetual self-destruction. If this voyage will inspire even just a few children to dream of a better tomorrow, I will gladly sacrifice myself because I truly believe we can make a better world that works for all of humanity. And I am not just saying that.

    Reply
  22. Hello every one,well i would definitly go if N.A.S.A was not so peaky of with who they want, they want some1 young some1 mid 20s , with a life expectency of 20 to 40 years, <<<time very important .in great health
    some 1 with great I.Q point fo nasa
    some 1 that can deal with solitary .. point for me.
    i can go on and on .the fact nasa needs the gnny pig. the firs test nasa has done on us for that trip is this why and who in their right mind would want to go on a 1 way trip to mars y .that is their question .
    if u qualify u got ticket. they know they not going to get scholars to raise there hands or great scientist so they gonna get brave ppl and train in every way they can . how many are they sending ?male ,female ?. i mean is so much to consider.

    Reply
  23. I’m 33, a small entrepreneur n having a big interest in space/astronomy. My kids absolutely will find it hard for them, but later they will understand n proud to see their father to be one of the first human civilization outside our planet.

    Reply
  24. I`m from IRAN and i`m volunteer and ready 100% to go. I can adapt myself with any situation fast. The thing is i studied aviation and i like sky, space and other planet. The desert i growth there s not to much different different with mars i think. except winter in mars that go to below 100 degree centigrade.

    Reply
  25. YOUR all crazy, or possibly loosers, wanting to find “dragstick” measures to escape your earthly responsibilities. Send them all to Mars! Immediately!

    Reply
  26. if nasa belive on tecnology and skills.that mission will never be one way mission.iam mbbs student..give me opporutnity.i will come back from mars..i serve me as volunteer.for any misson..for medical rearch there…

    Reply
  27. i am looking forward to see new horizons of the universe. inter planet travelling is always amazing for me. i am petroleum Technologist and have vision to see world my eyes and mission to help my kind to flourish. God is looking towards those who work to know his knowledge.

    Reply
  28. I am a builder and engineer. I would go tomorrow if asked. Please send me the requirements and what I have to do to sign up. I would be honoured to be involved with the fist colony on Mars.

    Reply
  29. Hello NASA

    I wish to build first movie screen on Mars. Yes just The Big Screen and watch how many Humanoids or none Humanoids will show up to watch the movie. The first name of the movie will be “Beyond The Quest” I promise it will be free of charge. But I need to have The All Rights Reserve to film the entire Red Carpet
    Appearances. Any help from you please let me know…

    Sincerely Yours
    Mireck Adam Kullitt

    Reply
  30. I want to volunteer for the mars mission. I’m 75, have looked at the stars and constellations since my teen years; read Bradbury’s “Martian Chronicles” as a young man…and twice since. Love of flight led me to qualifying as an ultralight pilot in my later years. Veteran USAF, honorable discharge 1961. Have followed all of the shuttle flights but have always hoped for more discovery that is relevant to us on earth.

    Reply
  31. I am willing to volunter …i am …a filipino 30 yrs old… male…physicaly fit strong…
    and I am a survivor… even if I’m alone

    Reply

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