Looking for an adventure of a lifetime? I know the place for you. A Dutch company named Mars One is attempting a permanent human settlement on the planet Mars, estimating take-off in ten years.

There are three reasons for Mars One wanting to go to Mars. The first is the thirst for adventure. The second is curiosity, can it tell us anything about earth? The third reason is progress for man-kind. It will create development in areas from solar energy, recycling, food production, and advancement in medical technology.

The first mission, planned for 2018, will be unmanned, but after that, the 2024 mission, groups of four will be sent every two years. To get the first four people on Mars it will take 6 billion US dollars.

Mars One has said this about wanting to become a candidate for going to Mars:

“The Mars One Community Platform is an exclusive invitation only network. Only Mars One supporters will receive a personal invitation to create an account.

Become a Mars One supporter by contributing to our human mission to Mars in one of the ways listed below:

• Make a donation to Mars One as a one-time or a monthly donor
• Order merchandise from Mars One’s online store.” [1]

The oldest supporter is Marjorie Jean Biggers from The United States at age 81. The youngest to become supporters are several 18 year olds from all over the world. If you are looking to apply, here are some qualifications you need:

Resiliency-

• Your thought processes are persistent.
• You persevere and remain productive.
• You see the connection between your internal and external self.
• You are at your best when things are at their worst.

Adaptability-

• You adapt to situations and individuals, while taking into account the context of the situation.
• You know your boundaries, and how/when to extend them.

Curiosity-

• You ask questions to understand, not to simply get answers.
• You are transferring knowledge to others, not simply showcasing what you know or what others do not.

Ability to Trust-

• You trust in yourself and maintain trust in others.
• Your trust is built upon good judgment.
• You have self-informed trust.

Creativity/ Resourcefulness-

• You are flexible in how an issue/problem/situation is approached.
• You are not constrained by the way you were initially taught when seeking solutions.
• Your humor is a creative resource, used appropriately as an emerging contextual response. [2]

At least two of the astronauts require knowledge of the usage and repair of the equipment on board. Everyone on board requires a minimum knowledge of first aid. The preparation for the trip will be split into three categories: technical training, personal training, and group training. If selected, the participants are expected to commit the time of a full time job. For this work they will be paid.

The men who created this program are Bas Lansdorp, M.Sc., Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, and Arno Wielders, M.Sc., Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer, both from the Netherlands.

Space travel is becoming more and more immanent with organizations such as NASA, The Soviet Space Program, and now Mars One. NASA has several space projects going on now including The International Space Station, Curiosity/Mars Science Lab, and The Hubble. If you are interested in this opportunity then, go to mars-one.com or nasa.gov.

[1] “Meet Mars One Supporters.” Mars One Community Platform. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

[2] “What Are the Qualifications to Apply?” Mars One. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.