New Delhi: As part of an ambitious project run by a Netherlands-based not-for-profit foundation Mars One, to pick the most suitable candidates on a one-way mission to the Red Planet, 3 Indians have made it to a shortlist of 100 people worldwide. 19 year old Kerala girl Shradha Prasad is the lone selectee based in India, whereas 29-year-old Ritika Singh from Delhi currently works in Dubai and 29-year-old Taranjeet Singh Bhatia, lives in Orlando.
The trio reportedly beat competition from over 202,586 applicants, to enter the last leg of an ambitious private project that aims to send four people to Mars every two years, starting 2024. The first unmanned flight is slated for lift-off in 2018. The project plans to pick a total of 24 people, train them on surviving the harsh conditions of outer space, send them to Mars in groups of four, but not bring them back.
The idea is to form the first team of human beings for a pioneering Mars Mission to establish a colony on the Red Planet.
The final selection round will be aired on TV and internet across the globe. Selected candidates will participate in group challenges that demonstrate their suitability to become part of the project.
The large cut in candidates is an important step towards finding out who has the right stuff to go to Mars, said Bas Lansdorp, co-founder and CEO of Mars One.These aspiring Martians provide the world with a glimpse into who the modern day explorers will be, he added.
Shradha Prasad is a mechanical engineering student at Coimbatore’s Amrita University and an only child to her parents. She sees her selection as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Shraddha has been quoted as saying, I am keen on settling down on Mars as I have a passion for space sciences and technology. This apart, I also enjoy taking risks and doing something adventurous. The one-way trip to Mars combines the two.
Asked if she was confident of making it into the 24-member crew that will be selected to go to Mars, she replied, After my success in the third round, my confidence has strengthened. I came to know on February 13 that I had passed. I was ecstatic. But we were not allowed to disclose it. It will be tough leaving my family, friends and all my near and dear ones. Yes, I agree it will not be that easy. But, let me not forget that it will be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Asked how her parents view the possibility of their only child permanently settling down on Mars, she said: They think I am crazy. But, I am known for doing eccentric stuff. So, they are not surprised.
Ritika Singh said, I applied because I have been adventurous since childhood and like to take on challenges. What can be a better challenge than this? We all take a two-way ticket. To get a one way ticket to Mars will be a lifetime experience.
The third Indian, Taranjeet Singh Bhatia said, Space science has been my passion and I love taking risks, adding that she wouldn’t let anything mar her dream to go to Mars.
If finally selected, all three will not have to pay a penny and receive a salary from Mars One. The cost of putting the first four people on Mars is estimated at $6 billion and the first unmanned mission is slated for 2018.
It wasn’t easy for some of the Indians to convince their families. But I made them understand this is my dream and this is what will make me happy. Now they are fine, said Ritika Singh.
Once the Mars One selection committee creates an international group of four candidates, they would be trained in a replica of the Mars outpost. Up to six groups of four will become full-time employees of the Mars One astronaut corps.
Mars-One aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars by offering a one-way trip to those selected. According to the organisation, 50 men and 50 women passed the second round for selection. The candidates came from across the world- 39 from the Americas, 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, seven from Africa and seven from Oceania.
Among the organisation’s advisors are two Indians – K R Sridhara Murthi, former head of Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and aerospace expert Gautam Hariharan.
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