Nearly 1,800 Indians apply to settle on Mars

Mumbai: Nearly 1,800 Indians want to settle down on Mars permanently and several of them are from Bangalore, says Aashima Dogra, spokesperson of a not-for-profit organisation in the Netherlands. The outfit Mars One is planning a one-way human mission to Mars in 2022. Mars One wants a permanent human settlement on Mars in 2023, irrespective of the ground realities about surface temperature, atmosphere, soil and ecology on the Red Planet. About 100,000 people have so far applied, and out of them, nearly 30,000 are from the United States. Indians number about 1,800. The applicants registered their names on Mars One website paying up $7 as fee. Anyone above 18 years of age, and of sane mind can apply. The outfit wants people having 'psychological stability'. Dogra told a newspaper: "This programme is proving to be extremely popular among Indians, I think because of the excellent space programme we have." She was referring to indian Space Research Organisation's Mars mission planned for October-November 2013. Guys in ISRO headquarters might be squirming in embarassment. Mars One says, it intends to fund the endeavour by televising every aspect of the mission, from launch to landing to living on Mars. "The final round will be over in 2014, when 20 to 40 candidates will be chosen and there is every possibility that Indians will make the grade," Dogra said. Those selected will undergo eight years of intensive training at a Mars One facility before the final list of settlers is announced. The current plan envisages the start of crew training in 2015, launching of two rovers in 2018, followed by an all-cargo mission in 2020 and the first one-way human flight in 2022. Mars One is in the process of evaluating various rockets. These could be either the Space X of the US, or the Ariane European launcher or even an Indian rocket. Their website claims that the company intends to provide settlers with water, food and oxygen by mining resources from Mars' soil and atmosphere and that all components required to complete the mission can currently be built by existing suppliers. Mumbai-based Sameer Kumar has applied for the one-way journey. Gurgaon-based Amulya Nidhi Rastogi, a third-year mechanical engineering student says: "I always wanted to experience something beyond earth and I think Mars is the first step in this direction. I am confident of settling down on Mars permanently as I have the mental stability." With city infrastructures in Indian metros falling apart, and the US, UK and rest of Europe trying to pull their shutters down on Asian immigrants, the only place left, is possibly the red plant, with a one-way ticket to eternity.