Slashdot Mirror


Over 1000 Volunteers For 'Suicide' Mission To Mars

New submitter thAMESresearcher writes with a few updates on Mars One: "The Dutch company Mars One is organizing a one way mission to Mars 2023. In a press release that came out today, they say they have over a thousand applicants already. In the press release they also mention that they are now a not-for-profit Foundation. It sounds ambitious, but they have a Nobel prize winner, an astronaut, and several people from NASA on their board." The actual selection process starts early next year.

15 of 453 comments (clear)

  1. They've already announced their picks for the crew by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    "We've carefully reviewed the 1,000 candidates who volunteered online and have put together a team of our finest candidates," said Mars One head Bas Lansdorp:

    Captain:
    Jack Meov

    Pilots:
    Bob A. Booey
    Ivana Bloweau

    Mission specialists:
    Mike Hunt
    Jean Luc Picard
    George Washington
    Richard Flair, N.B.

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  2. Have the actually verified the Volunteers... by MADCOWbeserk · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn't be surprised if lots of guys didn't just volunteer their ex-wives.

  3. Re:I would go if there was a suicide booth by trout007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On Mars it's known as Outside.

    --
    I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
  4. Re:If you volunteer, then you are not qualified... by ledow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think that even some royalty probably said the same about traders who crossed the Atlantic, or tried to climb certain ranges of mountain to get to the next village, or ride the around around certain Cape around South Africa at some point.

    You don't need to be stupid to want to go live on a planet of your own (effectively), especially if follow-up missions are likely. You *do* need to screen people for suicidal tendencies, because that can be a major factor - but there's nothing to say that a perfectly sane person wouldn't choose suicide in tough circumstances like they are likely to face anyway.

    In fact, one of Man's greatest moments was called "stupid" at the time and ended up suicides. Or you wouldn't know *shit* about the South Pole now.

    "I may be some time" doesn't ring a bell about one of our greatest explorers ever?

  5. Re:Collecting volunteers on the internet by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Wanted: Somebody to go to Mars with me. This is not a joke. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed."

    =Smidge=

  6. Elon Musk wants 80,000 colonists by WillAdams · · Score: 5, Informative

    "SpaceX founder Elon Musk wants to create a colony on Mars consisting of a population of 80,000, ferried to the planet in a reusable rocket. For the initial trip, the rocket would contain fewer than 10 humans, and enough equipment to found a colony ready for the other 79,990."

    http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-11/what-do-we-know-about-elon-musks-plan-mars-colony

    --
    Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
  7. Re:I would go if there was a suicide booth by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The thing about suicide missions most people aren't considering is body disposal. There must be an effective and sanitary means of handling the body. It would be nice if they could make soylent green, but at the very least there should be a device which would render a body as "gone" in a clean and sanitary manner.

    Deathstills, clearly. A man's flesh is his own, his water belongs to the other astronauts.

  8. Re:Not a Former NFL Linebacker! by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Admittedly, Mike Hunt was quite a ballplayer.

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  9. Re:one condition by codewarren · · Score: 5, Informative

    This isn't 30 second latency we're talking about. When mars is furthest from earth, best case latency is a whopping 42 minutes. That means after you click a link, the very best case is that there are 42 minutes before you get a reply.

  10. Ridiculous Title by machinelou · · Score: 5, Funny

    Newsflash: Rest of Earth's population chooses 'suicide' mission at home.

  11. But there are way more than 80000 lawyers on Earth by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Funny

    What the hell are we going to do with the rest of them?

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  12. All or nothing by petes_PoV · · Score: 5, Funny

    Either there should be no lawyers among the 80,000 or they should ALL be. One group stands a chance of establishing a utopian society, the other would, at least, be doing all us earthlings a huge favour.

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
  13. Re:one condition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    so like comcast then?

  14. Re:But there are way more than 80000 lawyers on Ea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Colonize the Sun?

  15. Re:Don't talk crap by Viol8 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What do you think all the dead space probes already on the surface are? Besides which , if humanity is to be a permanent presence on mars which is the whole premise behind the mission then "contamination" is inevitable.