| < Mars One > |
| Did you ever dream of colonizing other worlds, outside our planet Earth? Of course you did, because you are human, and humans always had this ambition to go where no man has gone before. Why else about 100 people are living on Kerguelen island? This inhospitable world is contacted only 4 times a year by its support ship, and notwithstanding rather harsh living conditions passengers are ready to pay some 15.000 € to get there. How strange humans are, aren't they? |
| They are even stranger than that. A group of apparently well educated and reasonable scientists and activists is fiercely decided to reach the planet Mars within the next 1 or 2 decades, even without the option to return. Some of you may be reminded by this of the 1977 Boney M hit One-way ticket to the moon. Now it is even to Mars. To be definitely sure never to come back again? If they continue to advertise their crazy idea and to train potential colonists, they might really end up with a crew of desperate adventurers. |
| What if they manage to raise sufficient money? In principle, the technology for the flight should be available. Potential colonists (even on the basis of a one-way ticket) are continuously showing up (2025: no longer...). At least, the organizers realistically foresee 8 years of training for each of them, so the greater part will drop off after a short while. For the first trip, they need 4 people, and I'm sure they will find them. Should we allow them to do what they are planning to do? Have we the right to stop them? |
| We prevent people from taking heroin, jumping from bridges or high buildings, and committing suicide by other means. Of course we would also keep away adventurers from flying to Mars, if they have no chance to survive. But if there is a realistic chance to survive, even to a rather monotonous life in a restricted environment, then we probably should accept the free decision of the well trained participants. However, the organizers apparently plan to develop these activities into a permanent media event ('Let's have a look: how are they doing today on Mars?'). |
| In that case, this human outpost might become an integral part of our society, and the fate of the participants will be of concern for all of us. Then, it will be highly relevant to us, whether these people will ever or never return. Communication to some extent is always accompanied by mutual identification between the contactors. I would expect that an overwhelming majority will find it hardly tolerable to communicate (not even to attend the communication) with a person that has no chance to ever come back to Earth again. |
| The organizers of Mars One do not definitely exclude such a return possibility, but they raise concerns about its technical feasibility. To my impression, this difficulty will reduce considerably public acceptance of the project. While the potential extention of human habitats to another planet will be greeted with enthusiasm, putting conspecifics deliberately into almost inescapable danger will be punished by common sense social standards. Since the whole very expensive endeavour heavily will depend on public donations and interest, this would probably lead to its failure. |
| At least during these first years (the initiative was lauched in 2011), the organizers appear open to discussion and comments. After addressing them with my concerns I received their reply within less than 12 hours. My objections did not impress them a lot. But continued discussion might lead to progressive improvements in the general concept. You may object whether humankind shouldn't have more pressing problems than to colonize Mars. The same may have been objected against climbing the Everest and walking the moon. |
| Whatever can be done, humans will try to do it. Apparently, this is at the heart of our nature. Modern communication technology opens the possibility of broad participation in activities that only a minority dares to venture upon. If these modern adventures are persued in a secure and professional way, we all appreciate them as motivating and entertaining, increasing our quality of life. Why shouldn't be the voyage to Mars such an entertainment? It has the potential of becoming the greatest entertainment of all times. |
| MB 6/13 |
| next: Reality Show? back to: Should we be concerned? overview |