Advertising-funded space projects Starting this year launching a group of entrepreneurs a long-winded project. Within 11 years, the first four astronauts emigrate to Mars. Without a return ticket.
PUBLISHED 5 JUNI 2012 - 10:11 - UPDATED June 5, 2012 - 16:21
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FACTS March
* Mars day is about as far as Earth days, 24 hours and 39 minutes.
* On the planet's water and nitrogen, which can be converted into oxygen and breathable air.
* The sand and rock that already exist on the planet's surface, astronauts create bricks and build large new house. A plastic machine creates a thin layer of plastic to seal buildings.
* The entire base be powered by solar cells.
* No ground based country can now own land on Mars and the organizers behind Mars One plan does not lay claim to the land.
* There is about as much land on Mars (which has no sea), as on Earth, even though the planet is less. Gravity is only 40% of the earth (as the long jump, jumping on Mars jumps significantly longer than on Earth.
* As the project is not burdened by political aspects (such as some countries have to be involved in the project) will be implementing a lot easier.
* March One plan only to use already existing and proven technology to straight ether, accommodation modules and life support systems. Much of the technology has been tested for years on the International Space Station.
* Snittemperaturen on Mars is minus 60 degrees Celsius, so the settlers need to use special Mars-suits to be able to move outside homes.
* Even at the start, there should be over 200 kvadrameter living space for the four astronauts, who will then be further expanded in various processes.
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Surrey will deliver communications satellite that will spin around the red planet.
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With the help of two rovers as this, the astronauts will be able to explore an area of about 5000 square kilometers.
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Bas Lansdorp helping to fund the project through funds from his former company, energy company Ampyx Power.
The entire project is funded by sponsorship and advertising, and one of the organizers behind is also the man behind the TV program Big Brother.
-This has been a dream of mine for more than ten years, says founder Bas Lansdorp to SVT. When I mentioned the thing for Big Brother producer Paul Römer and he figured out that it would be possible to fund the project with the help of sponsors took it off for real.
The idea is that everything, including the selection process and the journey to Mars, will be broadcast live. The audience will be involved in selecting which group of four astronauts who will be the first to be sent off to the Red Planet - after a ten-year training program in which the applicant including isolated for months at a time in the desert.
Nobel laureate behind the project
Behind the project is both Nobel laureates and experienced aerospace entrepreneurs. A dozen of the currently active commercial space companies have signed "letters of interest" to supply equipment to the first settlement on Mars.
-Several other groups who are interested in March working on developing new technologies, says Bas Lansdorp to SVT. We do exactly the opposite and plan to just use already existing technology. But what makes the journey possible is that we are not planning any trip. It's incredibly much easier and cheaper to just go there and not come back.
In 2016, the first rocket off with an "emergency unit" filled with two and a half tons of food. Thereafter several postponements until the year 2023 when the first four astronauts will go on a seven-month long rocket ride to the planet. Then four more people emigrate every two years. In 2033, the then 20 people to live on Mars (if not more projects also realized over time) if the plan succeeds.
Anyone may apply
Anyone is free to apply to become one of the immigrants from the astronauts. Training program for departure begin next year and is thus calculated to ten years. The individuals can be selected for takeoff need training in such medical treatment (two of the four people must be educated doctor, the other two should have basic knowledge of nödvård).
TV audience chooses teams
In total, 40 people sent over a twenty-year period from a larger collection aspirants. TV audience will get to vote on which team to be sent off from year to year.
It's important that the audience likes those that will go away, says Bas Lansdorp. On one hand, they represent humanity on Mars, and they need to be well-liked for the project's sake.
Already hundreds of applications
In the years that come before the first astronaut launch, the astronauts Act among other simulate life on Mars in the desert environment of the earth. There, they will be completely closed off from the outside world beyond what is planned in terms of communication and live broadcasts. Since March are at different distances from the Earth at different times of the year, the communications with the exercise area will be delayed for between three and 22 minutes, just as conditions in the future settlement on Mars.
We have already received hundreds of applications even though we officially have no application process, says Bas Lansdorp. There is everything from a family of four persons to a person who is 72 years old, but also a lot of legitimate applications from extremely well educated. However, we expect several million applications when we open the process officially next year.
Has been going on in secret
The project is based in the Netherlands, and is closely linked to several universities and research centers. Planning started in January 2011, but has been kept secret until Thursday while the prospects for the project were examined.
Will build themselves
Once on the planet, the astronauts both to research and build. Using a brick hardware module and a plastic-producing device should be able to build houses from local materials. Among the first plans include a ten-foot wide, ten feet high and 50 feet long building that will include a garden including orange trees.
We will let the TV audience can choose the best of the best, says Bas Lansdorp. It is important that they are extremely smart, can learn new things quickly and that they are emotionally very stable. Therefore it is difficult to imagine that people with children will be selected to go away.
Self-satellite
For everything from the Red Planet will be broadcast live (with between 3 and 22 minute delay because of the distance) then you should also have a dedicated communication satellite placed in orbit around the planet. Using this should also go to mail astronauts and send video messages back and forth.
The landing is the main objective of the project and it should be seen in the delayed broadcast live both on TV, the cell phone and the computer. But before that, the selection process of the astronauts and the first launch of an emergency unit in 2016, broadcast live, and according to Bas Lansdorp are many different business opportunities for those who have a base on Mars.
-But to extract resources on Mars is not part of the plan, says Bas Lansdorp. If you find a gold nugget on the planet, it is not very worthwhile and much cheaper to just leave it there than to try to haul it to the earth. There are other possibilities, like to photograph space from Mars and other ideas that we have not even thought of yet.
Next year will open the application process and more info is available at the URL:
www.mars-one.com.
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