- 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
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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
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.
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
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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!'
Portugal props up banks with €6.6bn - Daily Telegraph
"We met our quantitative objectives," the minister added, noting a rapid reduction in its external imbalances despite a global economy showing clear signs of slowing down.
"Our budget roll-out remains in line with our 2012 targets and the government should be able to bring the deficit down to 4.5pc of GDP (gross domestic product) as planned," he said.
Last year, Portugal became the third eurozone country after Greece and Ireland to be bailed out by the EU, IMF and European Central Bank.
In a statement, auditors from the so-called troika said Portugal "remains on track despite continued challenges," while stressing that "rising unemployment has emerged as a pressing concern."
The troika added that growth in 2012 "may hold up better than expected" with GDP in 2012 "now expected to decline by 3pc as opposed to 3.25pc before and "subdued growth" expected in 2013.
The muted optimism was came after stark warning last week by Portugal's central bank that the country's banking sector was vulnerable to a "very major risk of contagion of adverse developments on an international level".
"These risks are still at very high levels and were exacerbated ... by the reinforcement of the connections between the banking system and sovereign risk in a growing number of countries in the euro area," the central bank said.
The central bank also warned that three of Portugal's four biggest banks would require state intervention in order to meet the EBA targets, preparing the ground for Monday's announcement.
Pushed deeper into recession by austerity measures, the government has issued a new outlook for unemployment for 2012 of 15.5pc, expected to reach 16pc in 2013.
Mr Gaspar said the deterioration in the jobless numbers required a response that facilitated work.
Work code reforms launched to make hiring more flexible must be pursued, the minister said adding that results would be seen in the "medium term".
The troika audit statement agreed with the analysis: "Recent approval of the revised labour code should attenuate job losses," it said.
"Nevertheless, further action to improve the functioning of the labour market is urgent," the statement added.
Can we send Davina McCall?
- John Slowey, Glasgow UK, 04/6/2012 13:39
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