Ambitious Mars One project would have people live there for their entire lives

Offbeat / June 10 by JD Rucker

Forget about Newt’s plan to settle the moon. The folks over at Mars One want to put a human settlement on Mars by 2023.

The plan according to co-founder Bas Lansdorp is to get four people to the planet using a 4-step process.

2016 – A communication satellite and supplies will be sent first.
2018 – A large planetary rover capable will land and search the planet for an appropriate area to colonize.
2020 – Living units, life support units, another rover, and more supplies will be sent. The rovers will build the various components and make it habitable.
2022 – September, the crew of 4 will depart for the 7-month trip once the colony is ready.

Every two years, more people will be sent. It currently has a projected budget of $6 billion and will be privately funded. The last time a human has walked on another heavenly body was in 1972 when we walked on the moon for the last time. We have never put a person on Mars.