Roadmap

During 2011, founders Bas and Arno laid the foundation for the Mars One Mission Plan through the creation of technical documentation, from astronaut selection through the first human landing. The primary providers of the complex infrastructure were engaged, top-tier aerospace suppliers from the around the world enthused to work with an apolitical integrator whose intent is to conduct a manned mission to Mars.

This will be the year in which our astronaut selection begins! Who will be the first four humans on Mars and who are to follow every two years after? Anyone who meets the criteria and feels they are up to the challenge can apply. Mars One will maintain 40 trained astronauts during the full duration of its missions.

Mars One will build a replica of the Mars settlement on Earth, likely in a cold, desolate environment, to help the astronauts prepare and train and for a realistic environment in which to test the equipment. The astronaut selection and the preparations in the simulated Mars base will be broadcast world-wide for the public to view.

This will be the year in which preparations for the supply missions, the first to launch in 2016, are set in motion, as well as production of the first Mars communication satellite. (Photo: Surrey Satellite Technology)

The supply mission will be launched for Mars in January 2016. It will land on the Red Planet in October 2016 with its cargo of 2500 kilograms of spare parts, solar photovoltaic panels, and general supplies. It will land close to where the outpost is expected to be.

In 2018 the first settlement rover will land on Mars. While the general location of the outpost will be known, the rover's task is to find the ideal spot within the area. As with the Curiosity Mars Rover, the 6-40 minute round-trip delay in communication (depending upon the positions of the Earth and Mars in their orbits) requires that the rover has some autonomy while much of its functions will be controlled by instruction from Earth. A video stream will be broadcast on Earth 24/7/365.

In 2021 all the components of the settlement reach their destination in six separate landers. Two living units, two life support units, a second supply unit, and another rover arrive on Mars. The two rovers take all components to the settlement location and prepare for the arrival of Mars Team One, the first humans on Mars. A second video stream will be broadcast to Earth 24/7/365.

All water, oxygen and atmosphere production will be ready by early 2022, which is when the Earth crew is granted the go-for-launch of Mars Team One. Each component of the Mars transit vehicle is launched into a low Earth orbit and linked. In September history is made as the first four astronauts are launched on their journey to the Red Planet. Every part of this adventure will be broadcast to Earth 24/7/365.

The Mars Team One astronauts land in 2023 – the first humans to set foot on Mars! Once settled in, their first tasks include installing the connecting tubes between the individual capsules, configuring and activating the food production units, and assembling the remaining solar photovoltaic panels. Their epic exploration of Mars, their new home planet begins, with everyone on Earth engaged in the 24/7/365 broadcast. A few weeks later, five cargo missions arrive, bringing additional living units, life support units, and a third rover.

In June of 2025 Mars Team Two the second crew of four astronauts lands. They are received by their predecessors who have completed the construction of the settlement. As successive Mars One Teams arrive, the settlement will grow in its capacity for scientific research, experiments, and exploration of Mars, with a minimum of four high definition video streams providing viewers on Earth with 24/7/365 engagement.