10th January 2013

Mars One issues requirements for 2013 astronaut selection

Mars One, a not-for-profit organisation which plans to establish a human settlement on Mars in 2023, has issued the base requirements for its pending Astronaut Selection Program. This establishes the first step toward the global selection process which will commence in the first half of 2013.

As we reported in December, Mars One is unique to all other space exploration endeavors before it. The company's astronaut program is open to anyone on Earth that meets its base criteria. It is not necessary to have military training nor experience in flying aircraft nor even a science degree. What is most important is that applicants be intelligent, in good mental and physical health, and be willing to dedicate eight years to training and learning before making the journey to their new home on Mars.

Norbert Kraft, a former Senior Research Associate at NASA and Chief Medical Director for Mars One: “In my former work with NASA we established strict criteria for the selection and training of astronauts on long duration space flights. Gone are the days when bravery and the number of hours flying a supersonic jet were the top criteria. Now, we are more concerned with how well each astronaut works and lives with the others, in the long journey from Earth to Mars and for a lifetime of challenges ahead. Psychological stability, the ability to be at your best when things are at their worst is what Mars One is looking for. If you are the kind of person that everyone chooses to have on their island, then we want you to apply too.”

Applicants need to be at least 18 years of age, have a deep sense of purpose, willingness to build and maintain healthy relationships, the capacity for self-reflection and ability to trust. They must be resilient, adaptable, curious, creative and resourceful. Mars One is not seeking specific skill sets such as medical doctors, pilots or geologists. Rather, candidates will receive a minimum of eight years extensive training while employed by Mars One. While any formal education or real-world experience can be an asset, all skills required on Mars will be learned while in training.

Suzanne Flinkenflögel, the Director of Communications at Mars One: “Well before the official Astronaut Selection Program, we received more than 1,000 emails from individuals who desire to go to Mars. While they may not yet realise the incredible challenges that lay ahead, this show of support for a global selection campaign is so important to us. We are working hard to launch our selection campaign as soon as possible, to open the doors to everyone who aspires to do something tremendous in their lifetime."

The Mars One Foundation will employ the astronauts during their Earth-based training and life on Mars and will be the manager of the simulation bases on Earth and the human settlement on Mars. Eight robotic cargo missions (2016-2021) will establish a habitable settlement which will welcome the humans upon their arrival to Mars. The final Astronaut candidates will be selected from the global applications through a combination of critical review by Mars One experts and a global, televised program which ultimately selects which set of four astronauts will be the first to go.

In our recent poll, nearly two-thirds of readers said they would choose to live on Mars if offered the chance.

To learn more about the astronaut selection criteria, visit www.thenextgiantleap.com.

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