MARS TO STAY

In 2012, there was a new proposal brought forward by Mars one which is a private space flight. Their idea was to send people to Mars, something that was previously impossible due to technology and finances, but they suggested that the astronauts stay on Mars and don't come back. Pretty scary! After the astronauts go through their training, a new group of astronauts will be training, getting ready to go to Mars in two years. (A new group of four will go every two years).

WHO WILL GO TO MARS?

Each astronaut will be put through the required 8 years of training. While the astronauts train they will be isolated from the rest of the world for a few months every two years in groups of four to learn how to live and cooperate in close quarters with their fellow crew members. All of the astronauts applying will of course have previous work experience but will have to be trained so that they are ready in any situation. They will have to know how to take care of things like broken bones or dental work and cultivating crops in hydroponic plant production units. They will have to learn how to repair any electrical damage and so much more. There are no shortages of applicants for the Mars project and the majority are from the U.S.(and then India, and then china). Right now there are 202,586 applicants from more than 140 countries including a woman from Sooke!

RESEARCH

While the astronauts live on mars they will be doing a lot of research. They will be reporting on the environment of mars, and how their bodies react to living so long in a 38% gravitational field and how plants and crops grows in hydroponic plant production units.

RISKS

• Cancer rates will increase on Mars due to radiation
• Any risks that come with going to space
• Minimal communication to earth

FINANCES

As you might imagine, this whole project is going to be VERY expensive. To help with finances, they are making a reality tv show about the Mars To Stay project, following them to space. That will be pretty interesting to watch! The first crew of four will cost about six billion US dollars.

REFERENCES

• Www.mars-one.com/mission/humankind-on-mars

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