‘Mars One’ mission proposes to settle colony on Mars and make a reality TV show about it

While most of us have never physically experienced space or for that matter another planet, and possibly never will, we have, to a very large extent seen a fair share of what the solar system and galaxy have had to offer with countless pictures, videos and even the occasional moon rock.

Of course this could be the closest we’ll ever come to experiencing other worlds but a new proposal, while not promising to send you to the stars will bring them to your living room.

Combining the talents of a Nobel Prize winning physicist and the co creator of Big Brother, a group of Dutch entrepreneurs is proposing to send a manned mission to mars to establish a settlement on the Red Planet and in true reality television fashion, will record every second of this grand enterprise for audiences back on earth to view.

The Dutch group’s project, Mars One, proposes to send a manned mission of four to Mars by April, 2023, and will hope to replenish the ‘settlers’ every two years with additional crews, so that by 2033, atleast 20 people are living on Mars. Backing this daring enterprise are Dutch Nobel prize winning Physicist, Gerard 't Hooft and co-creator of Big Brother, Paul Romer.

Speaking about ‘Mars One’, the group said, “We see this as a journey that belongs to us all, and it is for this reason that we will make every step one that we take together. This will also be our way to finance the mission: the mission to Mars will be the biggest media event ever! The entire world will be able to watch and help with decisions as the teams of settlers are selected, follow their extensive training and preparation for the mission and of course observe their settling on Mars once arrived. The emigrated astronauts will share their experiences with us as they build their new home, conduct experiments and explore Mars.”

Paul Romer added, When the Mars One founders first approached me, asking whether they could speak to me about a mission to Mars, my first response was 'these people are crazy. What can they do that NASA’s can’t? That conversation made it clear to me, however. They think so creatively, and outside of the box and the concept of a ‘one-way’ mission is both outrageous and exciting. These aspects are what brought me to the idea of making the mission the biggest media event in the world. Reality meets talent show with no ending and the whole world watching. Now there’s a pitch!”

Mars One has apparently been in development since 2011 and it is expected that astronauts for the mission will go into training from next year, for a possible mission that may not see them return to earth anytime soon. Of course the entire process, from selection to launch will be a part of a reality TV show.