What’s Mars One?

Mars One is one of many recent plans to to put human feet on Mars.  It’s unique in a couple respects:

• It’s a privately funded/non-profit project, not a government project.
• It’s a one-way mission. The individuals chosen for the mission will be settling on Mars; there will be no return trip.
• Mars One hopes to fund the project by filming and televising the selection, training, launch, and settlement of its selected astronauts.  Aka – reality TV.

Why This Blog?

Mars One is an ambitious (and slightly insane) project that intersects many disciplines, providing an opportunity to talk about everything from rocket fuel formulas to reality TV.  I’ve been fascinated by the project since first hearing about it, and wanted to create a place where I could consolidate the reading and research I’ve done, and share my findings with others.

What’s With the Blog Title?

When I was in 5th grade, my dad cracked open the box of science fiction books he’d read as a kid, and told me they were fair game.  Robert Heinlein’s Have Space Suit – Will Travel was the first book out of the box, and I’ve been hooked on the genre ever since.

Who’s Writing All This?

Marie Erichsen worked in the financial planning industry for several years, swooping like a ninja through phone trees and around bureaucratic stone walls, helping clients move their money from Point A to Point B.  Eventually, her side gigs as a piano instructor and accompanist took over her life, and she’s now completing a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance, and working (nearly!) full time as a piano teacher, accompanist, rehearsal pianist, and church musician.

She applied to Mars One because she’s a sucker for ambitious and idealistic schemes, even ones she thinks will likely fail.  (She told the committee point blank in her application, “I highly doubt that Mars One will actually send anyone to Mars.”  They let her through to Round 2 anyway).  She figures she’ll get eliminated in one of the upcoming rounds, because there’s not much need on Mars for pianists or financial planning assistants.   But she intends to keep following the progress of the project as long as there’s progress to follow.