What it takes for Mars One contestants to want to move forever

A MISSION to send humans to live permanently in Mars is set to leave in 2025, but what does it take for people to want to leave for Mars forever?

A concept art of the initial settlement.

MARS One is a program launched by a Dutch entrepreneur in 2012 that plans to have a human colony living on Mars by 2025.

Over 1000 people are currently competing to be sent to Mars and never return to Earth, with five of them releasing a video to explain why they want to make the trip.

The video itself is quite daunting and rather than exploring the idea of living on Mars as an adventure and the thrill of exploration, the competitors come to the terms with the fact they will be abandoning Earth forever.

Some have to get over the fact that they will be leaving their children, partners and family behind, while others who regard themselves as more loners are happy to leave people behind. “Once you’re gone, you are technically dead here on Earth,” says one. “And I’m okay with that.”

“I want to go to Mars because it would give me another purpose of living,” said another.

The general feeling between all, though, is the fact that they want to make a difference in the world.

The plan is to whittle the competitors down to 30-50 by 2015. They will then be put through a program and reality television series with the mission set to leave by 2025. It will be manned by the four competition winners after years of testing, training and fundraising.