Hi Levelwind, I am keeping a close eye on SpaceX (as it now is the only option off-world for me ). Elon is doing some amazing work. He even open-sourced the Tesla electric car technology, which is such a clever thing to do to make sure it stays in play. He is driven and innovative and I have no doubt he will make his plans happen. We are lucky to have so many activists in the Mars race, the moment an independent lands there we will finally be vindicated, all the years of staring at NASAty images would not have been in vain. What most of us know to be true already will be clear to all on that day. I would settle for an independent rover at this point that can stop at interesting sites and pick up and examine artifacts, no need for science labs to look for microbes, just a really good camera that can focus at different distances and some serious wheels and off-road gear to handle the terrain. I nominate 'temple mount' as the first landing site I am a little out of the loop on the rover images, I see we have been working on some interesting ones and so have others on the web, I am hoping to get some time for a bit of my own hunting over the next few weeks.
Hi everyone, I really need to apologise for my long absence but I have been a busy promoter rather than seeker.
I made it to the second round, one of 458 females world-wide and so very proud and excited to be given the opportunity to dream of a trip to Mars in my lifetime. My mind and soul were strong and willing, sadly my body proved not to be after the gruelling medicals and I was forced to retire from the race due to ill health
This does not mean I have given up, Elon Musk is still out there and I will continue to dream and work hard to buy that ticket rather than get it for free
Just means I have to work hard and am not on the forum as often as I would like...
Mars is the only viable alternative to Earth. The temp extremes are not like the moon and there is water and some type of atmosphere there. Any other planet even close to this type is light years away. In case there is a planet destroyer in our future or natural forces cause the planet to become uninhabitable, mars is our only hope.
And even that depends on your ability to repair or manufacture the technology that keeps you alive.
It does seem a more logical choice now that we know there is water there. I guess the problem is living in zero gravity ? That said, whats stops us exploring it for months at a time and not living there permanently ? My guess would be that the sponsors want a viable alternative (to Earth) to colonise, rather than a curiosity to explore. Science follows money it seems...
I've been watching this develope over the past few months and trying to decide if it is real or a hoax.
I finally decided I really don't care and I am not going to give up even the vaguest chance I may have this lifetime to stand on the surface of Mars and see what is there with my very own eyes....so I have just finished and submitted my application to Mars One.
It was hard, as I really thought about the realitiy of the journey and life there and what I would be giving up before I applied. I have dreamt of standing on another planet since I read my first Science Fiction book at the age of 8, sadly South Africa never had a space programme so that dream vanished before it really began. Now, at my mature age when most people are starting to think about picket fences and their gardens, I am standing in the dark looking at Mars and dreaming ofthe journey of a lifetime.
A really nice thought
And Humanoid, I will not forget the lead-lined boots !
Congratulations on your application, I really wish with all my heart that you are successful and get to fulfil your dream, sadly I am in no condition to go to Mars using conventional travel, although like you I long to leave the Earth and explore other planets.
I am sure I speak for all members in sending you our best wishes and look forward to following your progress
I've been watching this develope over the past few months and trying to decide if it is real or a hoax.
I finally decided I really don't care and I am not going to give up even the vaguest chance I may have this lifetime to stand on the surface of Mars and see what is there with my very own eyes....so I have just finished and submitted my application to Mars One.
It was hard, as I really thought about the realitiy of the journey and life there and what I would be giving up before I applied. I have dreamt of standing on another planet since I read my first Science Fiction book at the age of 8, sadly South Africa never had a space programme so that dream vanished before it really began. Now, at my mature age when most people are starting to think about picket fences and their gardens, I am standing in the dark looking at Mars and dreaming ofthe journey of a lifetime.
A really nice thought
And Humanoid, I will not forget the lead-lined boots !
). Elon is doing some amazing work. He even open-sourced the Tesla electric car technology, which is such a clever thing to do to make sure it stays in play. He is driven and innovative and I have no doubt he will make his plans happen. We are lucky to have so many activists in the Mars race, the moment an independent lands there we will finally be vindicated, all the years of staring at NASAty images would not have been in vain. What most of us know to be true already will be clear to all on that day. I would settle for an independent rover at this point that can stop at interesting sites and pick up and examine artifacts, no need for science labs to look for microbes, just a really good camera that can focus at different distances and some serious wheels and off-road gear to handle the terrain. I nominate 'temple mount' as the first landing site 
I am a little out of the loop on the rover images, I see we have been working on some interesting ones and so have others on the web, I am hoping to get some time for a bit of my own hunting over the next few weeks.
.
