Mars One cuts 21 Canadians from one-way mission to the red planet
54 Canadians among 705 candidates still in running
Mars One has cut 21 Canadians from its worldwide list as the non-profit foundation continues candidate selection for its planned one-way mission to the red planet.
Last December, the organization, which is based in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, picked 1,058 candidates to enter the second round of its selection progress.
One-third of those potential Mars settlers have been eliminated after a review of their personal and health profiles, leaving 705 candidates, including 54 Canadians, moving to the next round.
The Mars One project, is the brainchild of Dutch entrepreneur Bas Landorp. The $6 billion project will use existing technology and is being funded through sponsors and private investors.
The plan is for a crew of four to depart every two years starting in 2024, with the first groups arriving in 2025.
Initially, Mars One had an applicant pool of more than 200,000 from 100 countries, with 8,243 applications from Canadians.