Dutch Startup Aims To Colonize Red Planet In 2023

**TomAss** · 08-10-12 at 04:55 PM

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4tgkyUBkbY&feature=player_embedded

Mars One project aims to colonize the Red Planet.
Bored with talk about building a lunar colony? A Dutch startup that goes by the name Mars One says it will establish a colony on Mars by 2023, according to the Mars One website.

In 2022, a crew of four will embark on a seven-month flight to the Red Planet--and stay there for the rest of their lives, according to the website. A new team will make the trip every two years, enabling the colony to grow.

“This is an extraordinary project by people with vision, imagination," Nobel Prize-winning physicist Dr. Gerard 't Hooft, a "mission ambassador" for the privately funded venture, said in a video posted on the website.

Dr. Hooft, who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1999, also told The Huffington Post in an email, "I think that this could be a way to get the first human colony started on Mars."

Of course, a mission as ambitious as this takes some serious planning. Next year Mars One says it will launch the astronaut selection process to identify suitable colonists. The astronauts will undergo about a decade of training. In 2018, a rover will fly to Mars to determine the best location for the settlement. In addition to necessities like water and oxygen, the settlement will include "atmosphere production" to ensure the colonists' survival.

Is a plan this ambitious really possible?

"It is technically feasible. The question is not a technical or material question. It is a question of morale,” Dr. Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars Society and author of "The Case For Mars," told The Huffington Post.

But is Mars One really the group to pull off something that Mars buffs have been pushing for years? Richard Garriott, a private astronaut and a NASA consultant, sounded a cautious note in an email to The Huffington Post. "It is definitely NOT more serious than many hopeful Google Lunar X-Prize teams," he wrote of the Mars One proposal. "Many have interesting viable starting plans. Few raise the money to be able to pull it off."

But Garriott is apparently on board with the basic outline of the Mars One plan. "I think the people who go to Mars first ought to be settlers," he told the BBC in February. "To get people back off Mars is harder than getting people off of Earth, because it’s another world. Maybe we’ll start bringing people the other way in a hundred years.”

Garriott said he would make a one-way trip to Mars if given the opportunity. So would Dr. Zubrin.

"This is something that has amazing historic value--the transformation of humanity from a single planet species to a multiplanet species," Dr. Zubrin said. "You only live once,” he said. “To have the chance to do something like this is profound."

Would you move permanently to Mars if given the opportunity?

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/02/mars-one-colonize-red-planet-video_n_1564745.html

**rainbowspinner** · 08-10-12 at 05:28 PM

Quote:

To get people back off Mars is harder than getting people off of Earth, because it’s another world.

Me I prefer Planet Earth. Kind of even like it. Why would anyone want to go live on a 'RED' planet with no option of returning to mother earth? I like the colors here, thank you very much. Can't imagine leaving it behind by choice.

**shonymat** · 08-10-12 at 05:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rainbowspinner

Me I prefer Planet Earth. Kind of even like it. Why would anyone want to go live on a 'RED' planet with no option of returning to mother earth? I like the colors here, thank you very much. Can't imagine leaving it behind by choice.

HISTORY miss rainbow! To be part of something so monumental, whether in success or failure, I imagine there are tons of people who would jump at the opportunity. I'm not one of them of course. Family.. too old, astrophobia (it's true), but I bet people would line up at the chance to have their 15mins of fame. I just hope I'm still around when it finally happens.

jjesso1993 · 08-10-12 at 05:44 PM

We need somthing give nasa a kick, to kick of the race to put a man on mars. I can't see this happening so don't know if this will be it. It's shame imagine if we spent so little on wars and put all in space travel...............

**carlmc1** · 08-10-12 at 05:59 PM

As long as they leave their women's hockey team behind I don't mind!

**pkg81** · 08-10-12 at 06:14 PM

I'm packing my bags, I'm out of here!!!

**robbo0000** · 08-10-12 at 06:18 PM

I'm on my way , cant wait to start my dirt farm :P

**rainbowspinner** · 08-10-12 at 06:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shonymat

HISTORY miss rainbow! To be part of something so monumental, whether in success or failure, I imagine there are tons of people who would jump at the opportunity.

LOL, I have nothing against history, monumental events or accomplishments. I just prefer to leave this one to someone else!

The question was "Would you live on Mars if given the opportunity?" No, I would not. You all have a great time! I'll be thinking of you all while sitting on the beach or hiking in the green mountains.

a1579 · 08-10-12 at 06:27 PM

Many people predicted this. Private initiative seems to the way to go.
The government can suck it.

Valid_Username · 08-10-12 at 06:49 PM

It'll never happen.
Another 'perpetual motion' or 'water powered car' type scam to attract funding, then they'll just fade away with cash stuffed pockets.

jjesso1993 · 08-10-12 at 06:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by a1579

Many people predicted this. Private initiative seems to the way to go.
The government can suck it.

It cost 2.5 Billion to make robot to go the surface of mars. I don't know if that includes the salary of all people involved, and the many other cost. Now if Nasa could do this for double quadruple the cost don't you think they would of done it ? Where is the company going to cough up the the potential 10's billions to do this. It's not going happen, like it or not no private company is going to do somthing like this.

**L1b3rta** · 08-10-12 at 07:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Valid_Username

It'll never happen.
Another 'perpetual motion' or 'water powered car' type scam to attract funding, then they'll just fade away with cash stuffed pockets.

The brothers Wright turn around in their graves.

**TomAss** · 08-10-12 at 07:26 PM

I'd rather live on mars than be left behind here. I heard a while back that you could buy a ticket to live in an underground bunker for when the world went @$$ over tea kettle. Only scientists, doctors, very famous or important people were allowed to live there. When I heard about it they were putting plants and insects in the bunker to start the process. Not sure if it was true or just the rumors, but I thought that was kinda rude.

Notorious_dog · 08-10-12 at 07:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TomAss

I'd rather live on mars than be left behind here. I heard a while back that you could buy a ticket to live in an underground bunker for when the world went @$$ over tea kettle. Only scientists, doctors, very famous or important people were allowed to live there. When I heard about it they were putting plants and insects in the bunker to start the process. Not sure if it was true or just the rumors, but I thought that was kinda rude.

Sounds like the plot to a movie I once saw. "2012" I think?

View Poll Results: Would you live on Mars if given the opportunity?
I'm packing my bags, I'm out of here.	29	61.70%
I was born on this planet, I'll die on this planet.	18	38.30%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll

08-10-12 at 05:28 PM	#2
rainbowspinner Elder Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,547	Quote: To get people back off Mars is harder than getting people off of Earth, because it’s another world. Me I prefer Planet Earth. Kind of even like it. Why would anyone want to go live on a 'RED' planet with no option of returning to mother earth? I like the colors here, thank you very much. Can't imagine leaving it behind by choice.

08-10-12 at 05:43 PM	#3
shonymat Elder Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2,887	Quote: Originally Posted by rainbowspinner Me I prefer Planet Earth. Kind of even like it. Why would anyone want to go live on a 'RED' planet with no option of returning to mother earth? I like the colors here, thank you very much. Can't imagine leaving it behind by choice. HISTORY miss rainbow! To be part of something so monumental, whether in success or failure, I imagine there are tons of people who would jump at the opportunity. I'm not one of them of course. Family.. too old, astrophobia (it's true), but I bet people would line up at the chance to have their 15mins of fame. I just hope I'm still around when it finally happens.

08-10-12 at 05:44 PM	#4
jjesso1993 Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 387	We need somthing give nasa a kick, to kick of the race to put a man on mars. I can't see this happening so don't know if this will be it. It's shame imagine if we spent so little on wars and put all in space travel...............

08-10-12 at 05:59 PM	#5
carlmc1 Not Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 2,004	As long as they leave their women's hockey team behind I don't mind!

08-10-12 at 06:14 PM	#6
pkg81 tehPARADOX Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Earth Posts: 2,476	I'm packing my bags, I'm out of here!!!

08-10-12 at 06:18 PM	#7
robbo0000 ¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 3,401	I'm on my way , cant wait to start my dirt farm :P

08-10-12 at 06:20 PM	#8
rainbowspinner Elder Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,547	Quote: Originally Posted by shonymat HISTORY miss rainbow! To be part of something so monumental, whether in success or failure, I imagine there are tons of people who would jump at the opportunity. LOL, I have nothing against history, monumental events or accomplishments. I just prefer to leave this one to someone else! The question was "Would you live on Mars if given the opportunity?" No, I would not. You all have a great time! I'll be thinking of you all while sitting on the beach or hiking in the green mountains.

08-10-12 at 06:27 PM	#9
a1579 Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 248	Many people predicted this. Private initiative seems to the way to go. The government can suck it.

08-10-12 at 06:49 PM	#10
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	It'll never happen. Another 'perpetual motion' or 'water powered car' type scam to attract funding, then they'll just fade away with cash stuffed pockets.

08-10-12 at 06:55 PM	#11
jjesso1993 Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 387	Quote: Originally Posted by a1579 Many people predicted this. Private initiative seems to the way to go. The government can suck it. It cost 2.5 Billion to make robot to go the surface of mars. I don't know if that includes the salary of all people involved, and the many other cost. Now if Nasa could do this for double quadruple the cost don't you think they would of done it ? Where is the company going to cough up the the potential 10's billions to do this. It's not going happen, like it or not no private company is going to do somthing like this.

08-10-12 at 07:26 PM	#12
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,989	Quote: Originally Posted by Valid_Username It'll never happen. Another 'perpetual motion' or 'water powered car' type scam to attract funding, then they'll just fade away with cash stuffed pockets. The brothers Wright turn around in their graves.

08-10-12 at 07:26 PM	#13
TomAss Elite Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,100	I'd rather live on mars than be left behind here. I heard a while back that you could buy a ticket to live in an underground bunker for when the world went @$$ over tea kettle. Only scientists, doctors, very famous or important people were allowed to live there. When I heard about it they were putting plants and insects in the bunker to start the process. Not sure if it was true or just the rumors, but I thought that was kinda rude.

08-10-12 at 07:34 PM	#14
Notorious_dog Elder Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,974	Quote: Originally Posted by TomAss I'd rather live on mars than be left behind here. I heard a while back that you could buy a ticket to live in an underground bunker for when the world went @$$ over tea kettle. Only scientists, doctors, very famous or important people were allowed to live there. When I heard about it they were putting plants and insects in the bunker to start the process. Not sure if it was true or just the rumors, but I thought that was kinda rude. Sounds like the plot to a movie I once saw. "2012" I think?