78,000 apply for one-way mission to Mars

[longship]

75. Who knows?

They've got nearly 80,000 applications.

I would love to think that they have their shit together and that this could work out. To build a colony on another body in the solar system is an incredible achievement. I truly think that it must happen eventually if we can stop quibbling about whether everybody on the planet should have the same religious beliefs, or whether everybody should carry deadly weapons all the time, or even something as simple as believing that every human deserves the same dignity and respect as every other. But these things are somehow too difficult for humans. That makes me sad.

What would make me glad is if this project was a real deal and received the support that such a difficult venture deserves. Then, I would gladly set aside my cynical fears that this may be just a publicity stunt.

They certainly have drawn a bit attention to themselves. And fortunately we will know whether my worst fears are a fact or not. There are very smart and experienced people who know all about this shit. If all this company wants to do is to make a reality TV show, we will all know soon enough. But if they are really serious the same very smart people would jump at the chance to be part of it.

I am skeptical that that is what will happen. Landing humans on Mars alive is a fucking difficult task. I don't think we're close to solving the problems of doing so.

The big deal is the one way ticket. It solves having to land the fuel for lift off, but if you're going to stay, you need the equivalent in provisions, and infrastructure. Mars One says that they'll seed the landing site ahead of time. Okay, fine! If you can do that, you can seed it with fuel for liftoff to an orbiting craft for the return journey. Again, it's that rocket equation. If you can send provisions ahead, you can send fuel.

There's a lot of shit that just doesn't add up on this. I think they just want to make a reality TV series. Too bad Tammy Faye Bakker died. I would bet that she would at least have been an entertaining candidate. I understand that she was pretty good in her reality TV show.

Regardless, I remain skeptical, but hopeful. I would be less skeptical if the destination was the moon. But I guess Newt Gingrich already has a flag planted there.