In 2013 Mars One will conduct a global search to find the best candidates for the first human mission to Mars in 2023. On Mars, the primary responsibility for the astronauts is to keep everything, and everyone, up and running. This will be a particular challenge for the first teams. They will need the skills to solve any potential problem - some of which will be completely unforeseeable. Their combined skill sets of each team member must cover a very wide range of disciplines. The astronauts must be intelligent, creative, psychologically stable and physically healthy. On this page, we offer a brief introduction to the basics of our astronaut selection process.
In spaceflight missions, the primary personal attributes of a successful astronaut are emotional and psychological stability, supported by personal drive and motivation. This is the foundation upon a mission must be built, where human lives are at risk with each flight.
Once on Mars, there is no means to return to Earth. Mars is home. A grounded, deep sense of purpose will help each astronaut maintain his or her psychological stability and focus as they work together toward a shared and better future.
Mars One cannot stress enough the importance of an applicant’s capacity for self-reflection. Without this essential foundation, the five key characteristics listed below cannot be utilized to the fullest potential.
| Characteristic | Practical Applications |
| Resiliency |
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| Adaptability |
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| Curiosity |
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| Ability to Trust |
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| Creativity / Resourcefulness |
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The astronaut selection program will be open for applicants who are 18 years or older.
In general, normal medical and physiological health standards will be used. These standards are derived from evidence-based medicine, verified from clinical studies. The applicant must be free from any disease, any dependency on drugs, alcohol or tobacco, must have the normal range of motion and functionality in all joints, visual acuity in both eyes of 100% (20/20) either uncorrected or corrected with lenses or contact lenses, free from any psychiatric disorders. It is important to be healthy, with an age- and gender-adequate fitness level. Blood pressure should not exceed 140/90 measured in a sitting position. The standing height must be between 157 and 190 cm.
Mars One accepts applicants from any country in the world. It is possible to apply in one of the 11 most used languages on Internet: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese. The official language will be English. Nevertheless, when a candidate applies for the selection program, it is not necessary for him or her to possess an extensive knowledge of English: we will provide candidates with documentation in different languages. As applicants progress through the selection procedure, requirements on their English skills will increase.
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Yes, it is possible to apply. On the 22nd of April Mars One opened the door to the Application Program. Everyone who's interested in submitting his or her application can register on the following page: http://apply.mars-one.com. Many people have already registered and their applications are publicly shared on http://applicants.mars-one.com.
Mars One is thrilled to receive this enthusiasm. If you want to stay up to date, you can sign up for the Mars One Newsmail, and receive all updates and updates regarding the Astronaut Application Program.
If you are planning to apply for the astronaut selection program, and you want to have a head start, it is wise to prepare your application very carefully. It is very important to think about your decision to enroll in the selection program: what does it mean for you to leave Earth and not be able to come back? We also encourage you to read more on the qualifications of the astronauts. For non-native English speakers, it might be good to work on improving your English skills. It is also very important to maintain good health, by staying in good physical shape.
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On the 22nd of April Mars One launched round one of the global search to find the best candidates for the first human mission to Mars in 2023. Mars One is an international organization - we encourage anyone in the world who is 18 years or older to apply for the selection program.
The application process consists of four rounds.
Round 1: All candidates must submit their application on http://apply.mars-one.com. The online application consists of general information about the applicant, a motivational letter, a resume and a one minute video in which the applicant answers some given questions and explains why he or she should be among the first humans who set foot on Mars. At this stage the potential candidates can submit their application in one of the 11 most used languages on Internet: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Indonesian, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese, Korean. Approved application videos are available to be watched by everyone on http://applicants.mars-one.com, if an applicant decides to make his or her application video public. At the end of round one, a team of Mars One experts will decide which applicants will pass to round two.
Round 2: Candidates for round 2 will need to get a medical statement of good health from their physician. The applicant will be invited to meet with a Mars One selection committee in his or her region. After conducting an interview with the candidates, the selection committees determines who will pass to round three.
Round 3: This round is the national selection round, which could be broadcasted on TV and internet in countries around the world. In each country, 20-40 applicants will participate in challenges that demonstrate their suitability to become one of the first humans on Mars. The audience will select one winner per country and Mars One experts will select additional participants to continue to round four.
Round 4: Those who pass to round four will be expected to be able to communicate in English. The applicants will be responsible to reach this level of English. Round 4 will be an international event that will be broadcasted throughout the world. The Mars One selection committee will create international groups from the individual candidates. The groups will be expected to demonstrate their ability to live in harsh living conditions, and work together under difficult circumstances. The groups will receive their first short term training in a copy of the Mars outpost. From the first selection series, of which Round 1 starts in 2013, six groups of four will become full time employees of the Mars One astronaut corps, after which they will train for their mission. Whole teams and individuals might be selected out during training when they prove not to be suitable for the mission.
The selection terms and procedures are subject to change.
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Mars One’s teams of prospective Mars inhabitants will be prepared for the mission by participating full time in an extensive training program. This will be their full time, paid job. The training is split up into three programs: technical training, personal training and group training.
Technical training: The astronauts will be required to learn many new skills and gain proficiency in a wide variety of disciplines. At least two astronauts must be proficient in the use and repair of all equipment in order to be able to identify and solve technical problems.
At least two astronauts will receive extensive medical training in order to be able to treat minor and critical health problems, including first aid and use of the medical equipment that will accompany them to Mars. At least one person will train in studies on Mars geology while another will gain expertise in 'exobiology', the biology of alien life. Other specialties like physiotherapy, psychology and electronics will be shared among the four astronauts in each of the initial groups.
Mars One will ensure that in each group, at least two crew members will be trained in each essential skill-set in case a member becomes ill. Their training and preparations will take all the time between their admittance to the program, and the start of their journey to Mars.
As the population on Mars increases, each new arrival will be able to bring with him or her an area of expertise. In time, this will reduce astronaut training time and requirements.
Personal training: The ability of astronauts to cope with the difficult living environment on Mars will be an important selection criteria. For example, an astronauts’ mobility will be restricted for a long period of time, and they will no longer be able to speak to friends and family on Earth face-to-face (read here how they can communicate with people on Earth). They will be able to receive psychological assistance from Earth if they wish, via long-range communications. The astronauts will be initially chosen for their inherent ability to cope with these environments, and will receive training on most effectively dealing with them.
Group training: Group training will take place in the form of simulation missions. A simulation mission is an extensive, fully immersive exercise that prepares the astronauts for the real mission to Mars. The simulated environment will invoke as many of the Mars conditions as possible. Immediately after selection, the groups will participate in these simulations for three months per year. During simulations, astronauts will only be able to leave the base when wearing their Mars suits. They will have to take care of their water supply and keep the life support systems up and running. They must also cultivate their own food, and all communications with the outside world will be artificially delayed by twenty minutes.
There will be several simulation bases, some easy to access for early stage, while others will be located in a harsh environments on Earth, providing realistic desert terrain and drastically cold conditions. These trials will demonstrate whether they are suitable for all elements of the task ahead. Can the astronauts keep the group functioning? Will they keep a cool head when confronted with a challenge? Can they effectively and efficiently solve given and uprising problems?
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Four individuals will leave for Mars in September 2022.
Four is the smallest possible group size because of the different skills that need to be present in the first team leaving for Mars. Working with a larger group would increase the cost and complexity of getting to Mars.
The astronauts will have trained for many years together before even setting foot in the transport vehicle. Groups will be composed based on personalities, abilities, and chemistry, in order for each group to work together in the best way possible. If one astronaut in a group changes his or her mind about going to Mars, or obtains an illness which prevents him or her from participating in the training program, or deemed not to be suitable for the mission, the whole group will leave the program or will start again from the start of the program with a new team member.
For this reason, there will always be new selections and several groups in training for future missions. This will make certain there are always qualified and integrated teams on stand-by, preparing for their time to travel to mars.
Also read:In 2022, several months before departure, the Mars One selection committee will determine which groups in training are ready to depart to Mars. We expect at least six groups will be ready for the trip. Each of these groups will have obtained the qualifications and skills necessary for the trip to Mars, so in that respect it should not matter who goes first. However, the symbolic and historic significance of this issue is a different matter altogether. Who will be the first four people on Mars? Who will get to be the first human in history to set foot on the Red Planet and be known for it forever?
Because our mission is humankind's mission, we will make this a democratic decision. The people of Earth will have a vote which group of four will be the first Earth ambassadors on Mars.
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It is not possible to apply for the astronaut selection program for people who are younger than 18 years old. This is the age by which children become legal adults in most countries in the world.
Mars One believes it is important that applicants who enter the astronaut selection program are capable of entering into a legal contract without the supervision of others.
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