The next big reality-TV star may be an aspiring Mars colonist.
The Netherlands-based nonprofit Mars One, which aims to land four settlers on the Red Planet in 2025, announced today (June 2) that it has signed a deal with Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP), an Endemol-owned company, to film its astronaut selection and training process.
“Our team felt all along that we needed a partner whose strength lies in factual storytelling to an international audience,” Mars One co-founder and CEOBas Lansdorp said in a statement. “DSP will provide that to Mars One, while allowing our selection committee to maintain control of the applicant selection process. This really is a perfect fit for both of us.”
June 2nd, 2014
Private Mars One Colony Project Signs Deal with TV Production Company
March 18th, 2014
Thinkfactory Media Shopping Mars Exploration Reality Series Deadline Hollywood
There is a second reality series project devoted to chronicling a mission to the Red Planet. Leslie Greif’s Thinkfactory Media (Hatfields & McCoys, Gene Simmons: Family Jewels) has partnered with The Mars Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet, on an unscripted TV project that would document Mars Society’s year-long Mars simulation in the Canadian Arctic. Thinkfactory had been working with the Mars Society on the project for the past four months. It took the series out to networks last week, with two outlets interested and currently in discussion with the production company. Tentatively titled Mission To Mars, the series is one of two Mars colonization reality projects in the marketplace, along with Lionsgate TV’s untitled series done in collaboration with Lansdorp’s Mars One, the international Mars mission backed by Dutch billionaire entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp.
March 17th, 2014
Would You Take a One-Way Ticket to Mars? The Atlantic
This short documentary explores the true story of five Americans who are competing to become the first humans to travel to Mars. The mission, called Mars One, is set for 2024. The Dutch nonprofit believes they can make it to the Red Planet but there’s just one problem—there will be no coming back. The film comes from director Skylar Nielsen and Vita Brevis Films.
February 26th, 2014
UAE Islamic affairs authority warns Muslims against a mission to Mars
Would there be any chance of survival?
That’s a concern for the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments, or GAIAE, the United Arab Emirates’ religious watchdog, for anyone who wishes to travel to Mars. The GAIAE has issued a fatwa, or an official Islamic ruling, to warn Muslims against a Mars mission. The mission is being planned by the Dutch nonprofit foundation Mars One. In April 2013, it announced its ambitions to establish a human settlement on the Red Planet by 2025.
But the GAIAE likens the journey to a suicide mission. On the authority’s free 24-hour hotline, the issue was deliberated by the center’s specialized muftis, or scholars, who released the following statement: “It is not permissible to travel to Mars and never to return if there is no life on Mars. The chances of dying are higher than living.”
Taking one’s life willingly is against Islamic principles.
In response, Mars One issued a statement asking the UAE’s Islamic authorities to cancel the fatwa, saying every precaution would be taken to reduce the risk to life. “If we may be so bold: the GAIAE should not analyze the risk as they perceive it today,” the statement says. “The GAIAE should assess the potential risk for humans as if an unmanned habitable outpost is ready and waiting on Mars. Only when that outpost is established will human lives be risked in Mars One’s plan.”
January 21st, 2014
Why we want to spend the rest of our lives on Mars The Observer
Since its announcement in May 2012, the Mars One project hasn’t had an easy ride. Critics have questioned all aspects, from the technical feasibility to its funding model. But recent developments from the project seem to be bringing the goal of starting a human colony on Mars by 2025 a little closer.
Last month, Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp, the project’s founder, announced a partnership with Lockheed Martin, the same company that is contracted by Nasa to build the Orion spacecraft, and Surrey Satellite Technology to build a satellite to put into orbit around Mars by 2018. This was a strong statement of intent for the project, which aims to send four volunteers on a one-way ticket every 26 months to spend the rest of their lives on the red planet.
January 20th, 2014
Provo woman could go to Mars Daily Herald
Kitty Kane has her travel plans made, although her departure is not yet confirmed. She’s hoping to take a trip to Mars, one-way. And it’s not for 10 more years.
The 24-year-old Provo hairstylist has applied to be one of the first people from Earth to colonize the red planet. Initially, 200,000 turned in applications. That number has been pared down to 1,058 and she is still in the running. Seven others of those continuing on are from Utah. Organizers are planning on an international crew. Of the more than 1,000 currently in the running, almost 300 are from the United States. One of the requirements is that they all must speak English, to facilitate communication.
“I think that is a beautiful goal,” Kane said. “It is not for national pride, but for all of humanity. It is one of my favorite things about the project.”
January 1st, 2014
East Sooke woman on short list for one-way Mars mission Times Colonist
An East Sooke woman took one small step Monday toward fulfilling her lifelong dream of exploring outer space. Marina Miral learned by email that she was one of 1,058 candidates short-listed for a one-way mission to Mars that aims to establish a human settlement on the red planet by 2025. The Mars One project selected the 30-year-old author from more than 200,000 applicants around the world. “I was shocked, for one, because I’d kind of given up; I sort of thought I would have heard sooner,” Miral said. “I just haven’t been able to stop smiling. “I’m so excited. I’ve never been so excited.”
December 30th, 2013
Mars One narrows applicant pool to 1,058 in first cut for 2025 colonization mission The Verge
Mars One, the organization attempting to send small teams of astronauts on a one-way trip to Mars, has made its first round of applicant decisions, selecting just over 1,000 people to move on to the next stage of what it hopes will be a decade-long, televised training and colonization mission. Today, 1,058 of the roughly 200,000 people who applied were told that they had made the cut. Between 2014 and 2015, all but a few dozen of those will be weeded out, leaving a final set of four-person teams that will theoretically begin heading to Mars by 2025. Before then, though, there’s a long process of testing, prototyping, and fundraising ahead of the company.
December 22nd, 2013
Mars One – First Private Mars Mission in 2018 Indiegogo
The Mars One foundation will establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. This Indiegogo campaign will help us jumpstart the first major step in our project – a private Mars Lander and Satellite mission in 2018. Your participation will help fund the 2018 mission and above all, show our partners & sponsors that the world is ready for this to happen. Mars One gives you the opportunity to participate in this historic project. This can be your mission to Mars!
December 13th, 2013
Lockheed Martin receives $250,000 from ambitious Mars One project Geek.com
Mars One has had some hard times lately, what with some prominent scientists and journalists finally beginning to grow skeptical about its viability, and its own CEO pushing the manned mission back by two years to 2025.
Some have been critical of the project’s high-profile call for astronauts willing to accept a one-way mission, saying that it’s an unethical and unnecessary measure that’s incompatible with modern values. Others simply poo-poo their schedule and funding plans, claiming that the Mars One foundation (called by its Dutch name of “Stichting Mars One”) cannot possibly do what it claims with the time, talent, and money it has available.
And then, earlier this week, the venerable Lockheed Martin came on board. For about $250,000, the aerospace giant will throw its talent, but perhaps more importantly its name behind the fledgling space program.