Wanted: Mars Colonists to Explore Red Planet
by SPACE.com Staff
Date: 08 January 2013 Time: 11:56 AM ET
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| If all goes according to plan, the first Mars One astronauts will touch down on the Red Planet in 2023. CREDIT: Mars One / Bryan Versteeg |
If you think you have the right stuff to help colonize Mars, you'll soon get your chance to prove it.
The Netherlands-based nonprofit Mars One, which hopes to put the first boots on the Red Planet in 2023, released its basic astronaut requirements today (Jan. 8), setting the stage for a televised global selection process that will begin later this year.
Mars One isn't zeroing in on scientists or former fighter pilots; anyone who is at least 18 years old can apply to become a Mars colony pioneer. The most important criteria, officials say, are intelligence, good mental and physical health and dedication to the project, as astronauts will undergo eight years of training before launch.
