One hundred people are still in the running to become humanity's first Mars explorers.
The Netherlands-based nonprofit Mars One, which aims to land four pioneers on the Red Planet in 2025 as the vanguard of a permanent colony, has whittled its pool of astronaut candidates down to 100, organization representatives announced Monday (Feb. 16).
More than 202,000 people applied to become Red Planet explorers after Mars One opened the selection process in April 2013. The latest cut came after Mars One medical director Norbert Kraft interviewed the 660 candidates who had survived several previous rounds of culling. [Images of Mars One's Red Planet Colony Project]
"The large cut in candidates is an important step towards finding out who has the right stuff to go to Mars," Mars One co-founder and CEO Bas Lansdorp said in a statement. "These aspiring Martians provide the world with a glimpse into who the modern day explorers will be."
The remaining pool consists of 50 men and 50 women who range in age from 19 to 60, Mars One representatives said. Thirty-nine come from the Americas (including 33 from the United States), 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, seven from Africa and seven from Australia.
The remaining candidates will next participate in group challenges, to demonstrate their ability and willingness to deal with the rigors of Mars life. After another round of cuts, the finalists will be divided into four-person teams, which will train in a simulated Red Planet outpost.
Eventually, Mars One intends to select 24 astronauts (six four-person teams), who will become full-time employees of the organization and prepare for the Mars colonization mission.
"Being one of the best individual candidates does not automatically make you the greatest team player, so I look forward to seeing how the candidates progress and work together in the upcoming challenges," Kraft said.
Mars One wants to send new four-person crews to the Red Planet every two years or so after the first touchdown, which would take place in 2025. At the moment, there are no plans to bring any of these Mars colonists home to Earth.
Mars One has also mapped out a number of robotic precursor missions to prepare the ground for people. The first of these, which would deliver a lander and orbiter to Mars, is scheduled to blast off in 2018. (Mars One will not build any Mars-bound spacecraft itself, but instead will contract the work out to aerospace companies.)
The rest is here:
Private Mars One Colony Project Cuts Applicant Pool to 100 ...
- The Case for Colonizing Mars, by Robert Zubrin [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Volunteers For Mars Colonization Wanted: Apply Today [VIDEO] [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Mars Colonization Mission Will Happen Live on Reality TV ... [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- NASA Wants to Send Plant Life to Mars in 2020 [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2014]
- Private Mars One Colony Project: 705 Astronaut Candidates Pass Latest Cut [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2014]
- Mars colonization a suicide mission, says Canadian astronaut [Last Updated On: May 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 10th, 2014]
- Mars Colonization By: Alexis & Anna - Video [Last Updated On: May 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 25th, 2014]
- One-Way Mars Colony Project Launches Suborbital Spaceflight Raffle [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2014]
- Frankly, the Military Industrial Complex should become a Mars Colonization Project - Video [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2014]
- MIT Students Bash Mars Colonization Plan [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2014]
- Humans may only survive for 68 days on Red Planet [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2014]
- Private Mars Colony Project May Not Be Feasible, Study Suggests [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2014]
- How to get to Mars with tons of loads! - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2014]
- The only realistic video about Human Mars Exploration! - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2014]
- It's All Going Wrong! - Sol 0 #4 - Video [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2014]
- Pesky Rock Removal! - Sol 0 #3 - Video [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2014]
- Lets Play Sol 0 Blind 2 - Video [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2014]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #001 - Auf geht's zum Mars - Video [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2014]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 1 - The Beginning! - Video [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2014]
- Lets Play Sol 0 Blind 3 - Video [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2014]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #002 - Wir bauen weiter - Video [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2014]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 2 - Big Bad Rocket! - Video [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2014]
- Lets Play Sol 0 Blind 4 - Video [Last Updated On: December 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 28th, 2014]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 3 - Colonist Failure! - Video [Last Updated On: December 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 28th, 2014]
- Betrayed.. By a Rock! - Sol 0 #8 - Video [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2014]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 5 - Asteroids! - Video [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2014]
- Now We're Getting Somewhere! - Sol 0 #7 - Video [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2014]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 4 - Solar Panels! - Video [Last Updated On: December 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 31st, 2014]
- Lets Play Sol 0 Blind 6 - Video [Last Updated On: January 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 2nd, 2015]
- Fin! - Sol 0 #11 - Video [Last Updated On: January 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 2nd, 2015]
- Endgame's a Comin'! - Sol 0 #9 - Video [Last Updated On: January 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 2nd, 2015]
- Lets Play Sol 0 Blind 5 - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 7 - Repairs! - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 6 - Colonists! - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 8 - Food Crisis! - Video [Last Updated On: January 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 9 - Nuclear Explosion! - Video [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2015]
- Elon Musk talks Mars colonization, Kerbal Space Program [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2015]
- Elon Musk plans Seattle office for Mars colonization [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #004 [Deutsch] - Auf der Suche nach Wasser - Video [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Part 10 - Finale! - Video [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2- Part 1 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2015]
- Lets Play Sol 0 Blind 7 - Video [Last Updated On: January 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 20th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #003 [Deutsch] - Mehr Leben auf dem Mars - Video [Last Updated On: January 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 20th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 3 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: January 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 25th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 4 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2015]
- Or.. Not Endgame! - Sol 0 #10 - Video [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2015]
- Elon Musk and the SpaceX Odyssey: the Path from Falcon 9 to Mars Colonization Transporter [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 5 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #006 [Deutsch] - Aufrsten? - Video [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 7 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 6 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 8 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2015]
- Deconstructing Consciousness,SpaceX Ritual=Mars Colonization, Microsofts HoloLens=Simulated Reality - Video [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 10 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 9 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 12 - Brand New Start! - Rockets! - Video [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 11 - Brand New Start! - Oxygen Problems! - Video [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 2 - Brand New Start! - Video [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 14 - Brand New Start! - Independence! - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 13 - Brand New Start! - Colonists! - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #007 [Deutsch] - Wo landet das Wasser? - Video [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2015]
- Would you want to live on Mars? [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #008 [Deutsch] - Zuwachs - Video [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2015]
- 100 people still in the running for a one-way trip to Mars [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 15 - Brand New Start! - We Explore our Independence! - Video [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 - Part 16 - Brand New Start! - Population Growth! - Video [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2015]
- Sol 0 - Mars Colonization - Season 2 Finale - Part 17 - Last Episode Forever - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #009 [Deutsch] - Die Katastrophe - Video [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2015]
- Moss Beach man among 100 candidates selected for Mars colonization training [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #011 [Deutsch] - weiter geht's - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #010 [Deutsch] - Wasser,Wasser, Wasser - Video [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #012 [Deutsch] - Energie - Video [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #013 [Deutsch] - Das schwarze Loch - Video [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2015]
- Mars Colonization(Sol 0) #1 - Video [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2015]
- Private Mars One colony project cuts applicant pool to 100 volunteers [Last Updated On: March 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 9th, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #014 [Deutsch] - Mehr Bewohner - Video [Last Updated On: March 14th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 14th, 2015]
- Mars Command to Mother Earth - Video [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2015]
- Cities Skylines mods - Mars colonization - Video [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2015]
- Sol 0. 03 - Video [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2015]
- Let's Play Sol 0-Mars Colonization #015 [Deutsch] - 3D Drucker - Video [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2015]