14 DAY TRIAL // There have been plenty of companies promising all sorts of schemes and projects about space exploration. Two common themes have emerged, asteroid mining, which is at least feasible, and manned Mars missions, which are less so.
At least, if you plant to return said humans to Earth. If you're only planning a one-way trip, things become much easier.
But who would sign up for a one-way trip to our red neighbor? A lot of people it seems, 20,000 in just one week.
The Mars One space mission/reality TV show is asking for volunteers for a trip to Mars. Applications were opened one week ago and 20,000 people have already paid the $38 fee needed to sign up their name.
Being the first man or woman to go to Mars is certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity, even if it means shortening that lifetime considerably. But it doesn't seem like all of the volunteers are quite sure on what to expect once they get there.
For example, Ma Qing, a 39-year-old bookseller told China Daily: "I think the chance to be part of the project is a cool way for me to change a dull daily life. Besides, the air on Mars must be much cleaner and easier to breathe."
The air may be polluted in many of the large cities in China, but it's still probably better than Mars' mostly nonexistent atmosphere.