• Seven-month mission to be financed by reality show on Earth
  • By 2033, there will be 20 people living on Mars
  • Mission backed by co-creator of Big Brother and Nobel-winning physicists
  • Reality show on Earth will finance mission

By Rob Waugh

PUBLISHED: 03:57 EST, 4 June 2012 | UPDATED: 04:08 EST, 4 June 2012

An independent space launch company aims to put four people on Mars by April 2023 - and the team will not be coming back.

Mars One claims that a new crew of four will join every two years as the explorers build their settlement, and that by 2033 there will be 20 people living on Mars.

The company has been in talks with independent space suppliers such as Space X, which recently launched the first privately owned rocket to the Space Station.

Mars One claims that a new crew of four will join every two years as the explorers build their settlement, and that by 2033 there will be 20 people living on Mars

Mars One claims that a new crew of four will join every two years as the explorers build their settlement, and that by 2033 there will be 20 people living on Mars


The Dutch company is backed by a Nobel prize winning physicist, Gerard 't Hooft - and also by Paul Romer, co-creator of Big Brother

The Dutch company is backed by a Nobel prize winning physicist, Gerard 't Hooft (pictured) - and also by Paul Romer, co-creator of Big Brother

The Dutch company is backed by a Nobel prize winning physicist, Gerard 't Hooft - and also by Paul Romer, co-creator of Big Brother.

The company aims to start training astronauts next year - and will turn the selection and training programme into a 'media event' similar to a reality show.

'We see this as a journey that belongs to us all, and it is for this reason that we will make every step one that we take together,' says the company.

'This will also be our way to finance the mission: the mission to Mars will be the biggest media event ever!

'The entire world will be able to watch and help with decisions as the teams of settlers are selected, follow their extensive training and preparation for the mission and of course observe their settling on Mars once arrived. The emigrated astronauts will share their experiences with us as they build their new home, conduct experiments and explore Mars.'

Mars One's plan has been in development since 2011.

Mars One claims that a new crew of four will join every two years as the explorers build their settlement, and that by 2033 there will be 20 people living on Mars

The journey to Mars will take seven months, says the Dutch company, and the entire process will be televised in a Big Brother-style reality show

Skylights in Mars: These two holes showed NASA that there are caves on the red planet - potentially our new homes?

Skylights in Mars: These two holes from a 2007 NASA survey that there are caves on the red planet - potentially our new homes?

Big Brother creator Rmer says, 'When the Mars One founders first approached me, asking whether they could speak to me about a mission to Mars, my first response was 'these people are crazy. What can they do that NASA’s can’t?'

'That conversation made it clear to me, however. They think so creatively, and outside of the box and the concept of a ‘one-way’ mission is both outrageous and exciting. These aspects are what brought me to the idea of making the mission the biggest media event in the world. Reality meets talent show with no ending and the whole world watching. Now there’s a pitch!'

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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I love everything to do with space, but it all sounds a bit far fetched at the moment. There are sources of water on mars, however it's frozen in a ice over 10 times thicker than ours. It's also no where near where the robots we've sent up are. Also, oxygen yes we can make it but not enough for a lot of people to last long, or are they planning to take a forest up with them ;) I do love the idea, but I think it's going to requrie a bit more thinking and planning. Also ... they'll never return to earth. A reality TV show for the rest of their lifes, The Truman Show anybody :D!?

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How do we know that there is not already life in them caves?

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I love everything to do with space, but it all sounds a bit far fetched at the moment. There are sources of water on mars, however it's frozen in a ice over 10 times thicker than ours. It's also no where near where the robots we've sent up are. I do love the idea, but I think it's going to requrie a bit more thinking and planning. Also ... they'll never return to earth. A reality TV show for the rest of their lifes, The Truman Show anybody :D!?

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reality tv...what better reason to conquer new frontiers?

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Bit early (or late) perhaps for an April Fools joke. Still not a bad way to get a shed load of publicity for your "Reality TV programme" is it? Wonder how many other daily papers they can con beside the DM.

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This looks no more than a caravan park on the south coast. Another fake, just like the moon landings.

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It sounds like the perfect place for all reality TV shows. add all the 'celebrity ' shows, and it's a right result.

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Sounds like an excellent idea. Send all the wannabe chavs to another planet on the promise of being 'celebrities'. The 'not coming back' bit is pure genius.

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They may want to start planting some trees if they plan on breathing

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And how are they going to produce all the oxgen that they need, if they are never coming back?

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