Tuesday 8 May 2018

‘First journey to Mars will be a one-way trip’

The first journey to Mars will be a one-way trip.

That's according to CEO and Co-Founder of space exploration business Mars One, Bas Lansdorp, who spoke to ELN about the logistics of getting to the small red planet.

He said although the technology to make the voyage and settle there is available, it is currently not possible to return home.

Mr Lansdorp said even on Earth, 5% of all rocket launches fail and added this figure would be much higher if attempted from Mars without engineers and after a long journey in harsh conditions.

He added: "Our mission is very complex but the return mission is mind-boggling. I can't imagine the first team on Mars returning to Earth.

"It sounds really dramatic today because I can fly today in the morning to New York and be back at London Heathrow less than 24 hours later but of course 70 years ago, if your neighbour said 'Hey, I'm going to New York', you would assume, you would know actually, that he sold his house and bought a one-way ticket on a boat."

Bas Lansdorp is our special headline speaker at this year’s Energy Live Future event - please click here to register now.