Irish man shortlisted for Mars mission. (one way ticket only)

An amazing opportunity, no doubt about it.

Growing up on a small farm in Kildare, Joseph Roche spent many clear nights gazing at the stars, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. He couldn’t have known that, 20 years later, he would be undergoing a medical examination as part of the selection process for a manned mission to Mars.

Last week, a private space exploration company called Mars One announced that it has shortlisted 1,058 people from 200,000 applicants who wanted to travel to Mars. Roche is the only Irishman on the list. The catch? If he goes, he can never come back.

If you think the whole thing sounds crazy, you wouldn’t be the first. Even the man behind the project admits it’s a gargantuan task. Bas Lansdorp, a Dutch engineer and entrepreneur, aims to land a colony of four astronauts on the surface of Mars by 2025

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/life-on-mars-irish-man-signs-up-for-colony-mission-1.1648449

Admittedly, he's still only one of 1k odd people to be shortlisted, but to make it that far from 200k+ is pretty good going.

Personally, with a wife and kids, I'm happy enough to pass away on on earth, and spend the rest of my life watching them grow up up etc.


Opinions please?

Would you go to Mars given the opportunity, knowing full well when that rocket blasts off, you're essentially leaving the only world you've ever known (in fact the human race has ever known) for good?

Poll coming up.

Edit. To make the thread a bit more interesting.

What one thing from earth, would you miss that you won't find on mars?


Mine would be the smell of the rain, falling on earth after a period of hot, dry weather.