Selected from more than 200,000 applicants, the 50 men and 50 women are a step closer to taking part in the one-way mission. You can read more about Britain’s five hopefuls here. The organisers ranked the candidates by points: here are the top 10.

Age: 34

From: Denmark





Christian says:

I believe the potential benefits of the Mars One project far outweigh the potential costs it may have to me, personally.

I believe these benefits will be scientific progress, which can benefit all of us on Earth, if you compare the Mars One mission to the moon landing, I think scientific progress, on a similar scale to what we experienced following that endeavour, is a reasonable expectation.

Another benefit of of the Mars One project, in my mind, is the motivation it ignites in other people, the surge in students choosing an education in the fields of science and engineering following the Apollo space programme is, in my opinion, a result of this motivation.

Furthermore, personally, and without any scientific backing, I believe that the increase in living standard these advances allow, will leave more space for individuals to expand the sphere of people they care for and will sacrifice for, beyond themselves, beyond their family and beyond their nationality.

As idealistic and altruistic as all this may sound, I’m also personally motivated by the desire to test limits, personal as well as technological.