(Image source from: 62 Indians hopeful of having a home in Mars})
More than 60 lucky Indians are close to realizing their dreams of having a home in Mars. As many as 62 Indians have made it to the list of a one-way trip to Mars in 2024. If all goes well, then these Indians might soon have their own private colony on the Martian soil.
The Netherlands-based non-profit organization Mars One announced the names of 1,058 candidates from a sea of 200,000 hopefuls across 140 countries. More than 20,000 Indians had applied for the first round.
Among those who made the first cut, 297 are from the US, 75 from Canada, 62 from India 62 and Russia with 52.
Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp described the shortlisted candidates as "first tangible glimpse into what the new human settlement will truly look like."
"We're extremely appreciative and impressed with the sheer number of people who submitted their applications. However, the challenge with 200,000 applicants is separating those who we feel are physically and mentally adept to become human ambassadors on Mars from those who are obviously taking the mission much less seriously," Lansdorp said.
The applicants have been notified about the 'big cut' through e-mail. For those who couldn't make it this time, there is always another date for reapplication. The date for that will be announced soon.
"The next several selection phases in 2014 and 2015 will include rigorous simulations, many in team settings, with focus on testing the physical and emotional capabilities of our remaining candidates," Norbert Kraft, chief medical officer of Mars One, said.
"We expect to begin understanding what is motivating our candidates to take this giant leap for humankind. This is where it really gets exciting for Mars One, our applicants, and the communities they're a part of," said Kraft.
Mars One aims to establish a permanent human colony on Mars. Crews of four will rocket off to Mars every two years, starting in 2024. The maiden unmanned mission will be launched in 2018.
AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
