Dubai: Ready to embark on a one-way trip to Mars, Mikolaj Zielinski is looking to explore the possibility of life on Mars.
The Mars One, which is a non-profit Dutch foundation, is set to depart in 2024 with crews of four taking off every two years. The missions aspire to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars which will be made possible with modern-day technologies.
Prior to the mission departing in 2024, the Mars One’s first unmanned mission will launch in 2018.
Zielinski, a 38-year-old software developer from Poland, is among the 100 candidates shortlisted for the Mars One trip.
Why did he sign up?
Zielinski said he applied in order to take part in an expedition that will have an impact on people’s understanding of life, “like the journey of young Charles Darwin around the world on the Beagle, who, as a result of observations, came up with the theory of evolutions,” he said.
“With the Mars One mission we hope to answer many important questions about the history of planets in our solar system with respect to the origins of life.”
He added that he is still competing with 99 candidates from around the world for a position on the mission. Once the selection process is complete, candidates will undergo nine years of training in order to prepare them for permanent settlement on Mars.
When telling family and friends about the mission, Zielinski said that some expressed enthusiasm while others were left sad and in shock.
“Some of my friends want me to remain on earth, some support the idea and some people are trying to change my mind about going, especially my mother,” he said. “But that has not caused me to re-consider. I am determined.”
Zielinski is focused on making it to the final round in order to be part of something as remarkable as the Mars One project. He has already completed necessary tests to ensure that the psychological prerequisites are met and was interviewed by a psychologist specialised in selecting astronauts for organisations such as Nasa.
Apart from the medical exams, research has been carried out to achieve maximum results on the future expedition.
No breathable air
“There is no breathable air on Mars, most of the atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide,” he explained. “Since oxygen is one of the ingredients of water, in 2018, Mars One plans to send a mission to demonstrate whether breathable oxygen can be produced from water.”
Though Zielinski does not usually set any expectations, he believes that there will be difficulties in terms of communicating with Earth, living in such an extreme environment and problem-solving in an unknown planet.
“I understand that I would have to sacrifice a lot, but I think that the number of good things we can do on this mission, in terms of scientific discoveries that may benefit all humanity, would make it worthwhile,” he said.
- Maria Botros is a trainee at Gulf News
Listen to the interview given by Zielinski to Radio 1's Surina F. Kelly and Daniel Creighton.
