Four Chinese among top 100 candidates for one-way trip to Mars

[webfact]

Four Chinese among top 100 candidates for one-way trip to Mars
News Desk
China Daily

BEIJING: -- Four Chinese are among the top 100 candidates for the Mars One project, among whom 24 will be selected in the end to receive special training for the supposedly one-way trips to Mars, China National Radio reported on Saturday.

The four Chinese candidates are Li Dapeng (male) and Lin Xiaoxia (female) from China, Sue Ann Pien (female) from the US and Maggie Lieu (female) from the UK.

Mars One, a Dutch non-profit project co-founded in 2013 by Bas Lansdorp, a Dutch entrepreneur, aims to establish a permanent manned station on Mars. Crews of four will depart Earth for the planet every two years, starting in 2024, and they will also be a part of a reality TV show.

"How many opportunities does one have to spend billions of dollars? I want to make good use of this opportunity to explore other planets and expand the presence of mankind in the universe," said Li Dapeng, a gardener at a local forestry bureau in Handan, North China's Hebei province, after graduating from China Agricultural University with a bachelor's degree.

It's reported that the expenses for food delivery for the first batch of four explorers will amount to $4.5 billion.

Despite not having his family's support, Li, a father in his 30s, said he would continue to be part of the project, though he might drop out halfway if his family voices strong disapproval.

Full story: http://www.asianewsnet.net/news-71998.html


-- ANN 2015-02-23

[Costas2008]

I would have been delighted to hear of some of the previous Thai politicians participating on this project.

But don't think it's my lucky day

[ColdSingha]

don't forget to hand out the "etiquette guides for foreign travellers" before they leave the space station

[stat088]

don't forget to hand out the "etiquette guides for foreign travellers" before they leave the space station

Yeah you just can't take a dump wherever you like on a Spaceship.

[Seastallion]

I wonder about the psychology of anyone who is willing to leave Earth forever. Can those individuals live together? I'm doubtful. Big Brother or the Dome Experiment were nothing compared to this.

That question, and others, leads me to suspect a massive hoax, all for the sake of a reality TV show.

[Just1Voice]

How many of us, if given a real opportunity to do this, would actually do it? Seriously. For me, personally, I'd be the first in line. I have wanted to go into space since I was old enough to understand what "space" actually was. My father even once commented: "You were born 1,000 years too soon." That was about 55 years ago when I was 10 or so. Would it be a "hardship"? Most definitely, but one I would happily embrace and take on. To see things no human has ever seen before, to go places where no human has ever gone. For me, that would be my idea of a perfect life. Yeah, I know, I'm probably a little weird, but hey, that's the way it goes. And I'm not crazy, just adventurous to a large degree.

[Gweiloman]

I would go too. I've seen pretty much all that I would like to see in this world anyway. Death is a certainty, either in this world or another. How fantastic it would be to be able to go into space and land on another planet before drawing one's last breath.

[Seastallion]

I would go too. I've seen pretty much all that I would like to see in this world anyway. Death is a certainty, either in this world or another. How fantastic it would be to be able to go into space and land on another planet before drawing one's last breath.

If you think about it, it would be exactly the same as if you are permanently locked up inside a grounded mini-submarine with TV screens for windows showing either blackness of space with some stars, or a desert landscape, for the rest of your life. The only difference would be the complications of low-gravity toileting.

And the same 3 faces and personalities everyday, with no respite ever.

No internet either.

No thank you.

[Rob8891]

I'd be more worried about one of the Chinese passengers deciding to try to open the door for some fresh air en route.....

[nottocus]

Well that's Mars screwed then.

[Shiver]

Will they be wearing helmets?

[bassman]

I think it would be best to send those caught trying to get to Syria and join ISIS for the first couple of trips, until the bugs are worked out. Though the idea of being able to explore new lands is compelling, the ISIS recruits would be less of a loss than the monkeys used on earlier first missions. We are at least 50 years to manned missions to Mars being successful. By sending ISIS recruits we could perfect the plan in stages, and failures would be a success.

[Pomthai]

I think it would be best to send those caught trying to get to Syria and join ISIS for the first couple of trips, until the bugs are worked out. Though the idea of being able to explore new lands is compelling, the ISIS recruits would be less of a loss than the monkeys used on earlier first missions. We are at least 50 years to manned missions to Mars being successful. By sending ISIS recruits we could perfect the plan in stages, and failures would be a success.

Good idea in principle, however I think it would be better to send them into the Sun. No need to ruin Mars.

[Gweiloman]

I would go too. I've seen pretty much all that I would like to see in this world anyway. Death is a certainty, either in this world or another. How fantastic it would be to be able to go into space and land on another planet before drawing one's last breath.

If you think about it, it would be exactly the same as if you are permanently locked up inside a grounded mini-submarine with TV screens for windows showing either blackness of space with some stars, or a desert landscape, for the rest of your life. The only difference would be the complications of low-gravity toileting.

And the same 3 faces and personalities everyday, with no respite ever.

No internet either.

No thank you.

Not much difference then to some farangs who are virtual prisoners in their own homes in the middle of Nakhon Nowhere. Just joking

[Paulc01]

Looks like somebody has finally taken up Douglas Adams' idea for a B Ark.

[Dustdevil]

And they'll be part of a Dutch reality show? The Dutch are responsible for reality shows in the first place! With their ill-conceived Big Brother or whatever it was spawning all the rest of the Kardashians and so on. Martian reality shows sounds like sci-fi satire.

[joesanunu]

Sounds fun.

In reality, 99.9% of the applicants won't last 8 hours, locked in a capsule wearing diapers.

[Allseeingeye]

great can they only send 4 or can they do 1.4 billion?

[Robby nz]

Is anyone allowed to make nominations ?

I can think of more than 4 that the world would be better off without.

[ThaidaGwaii]

Darn, the chinese haven't spread around the Earth enough, now they want Mars too.

[jaywalker]

great can they only send 4 or can they do 1.4 billion?

I knew somebody would beat me to it.

I was going to suggest it'd be a great idea if they could send them all.

[sawadee1947]

How many of us, if given a real opportunity to do this, would actually do it? Seriously. For me, personally, I'd be the first in line. I have wanted to go into space since I was old enough to understand what "space" actually was. My father even once commented: "You were born 1,000 years too soon." That was about 55 years ago when I was 10 or so. Would it be a "hardship"? Most definitely, but one I would happily embrace and take on. To see things no human has ever seen before, to go places where no human has ever gone. For me, that would be my idea of a perfect life. Yeah, I know, I'm probably a little weird, but hey, that's the way it goes. And I'm not crazy, just adventurous to a large degree.

you would not see as much.....you would die on the way

[Shaunduhpostman]

Wouldn't surprise me if it is a future resources grab, they'll claim Mars belongs to China.

[Publicus]

Darn, the chinese haven't spread around the Earth enough, now they want Mars too.

One seriously needs to know how the Chinese think of themselves and have always thought of themselves.

The Chinese haven't ever had a deity or any creation myth or creation mythology. The universe is just there, period. In China they ask how, they never ever ask why....there's no why to it whatever it might be...it's just exists and that's all. The small percentage of the Chinese who are religious are Buddhist or animist that have their own peculiar creation myths to explain the how of it all.

The Chinese consider themselves eternal, same as the universe, and that their rulers who are everything rule with the mandate of the universe, what in English is the Mandate of Heaven in the Celestial Kingdom.

Celestial. Kingdom.

The Chinese and the universe are unified, united, one. They are the one and the same. the Chinese only come from the stars and they are the stars in the Heavens.

The rest of humanity crawled over time out of holes in different parts of this measly little planet. earth.

People who accept that Chinese culture can be traced back 5000 years and traces of it to 7000 years are small time, because the CCP teaches every PRChinese the Chinese are 1 million years old.

The Chinese believe this Mars project and the current moon project are China's celestial destiny, rendezvous. To perish there is to return to being what we call a star in the celestial night sky.

Hey, I'm only saying it like it is in the unitary and universal mind of the Chinese. Meaning their choice of a lunar calendar has had its predictable impact over the millennia.

The reality show is to both the Chinese and the Dutch a touch of American commercialism and modern popular culture that neither understands or comprehends.

Did you eat?

(Long time Chinese greeting, same as 'How are you?' in the West, or in Thailand 'Where do you go?')

[joesanunu]

So, four Chinese made the top 100 candidates. Sure they just didn't cut into the line?

[Publicus]

So, four Chinese made the top 100 candidates. Sure they just didn't cut into the line?

Ahh yes, a fellow traveller who knows realistically and well....

Have you eaten yet??

Either way, so how are you? And where do you go?

One who knows the celestial eternal heavenly kingdom of the Wang, the Wong, the Li/Lee, the Zhang, the Liu/Lao, Chen/Chan/Chun, Yang, Huang, Wu, Zhou and all of the rest of 'em.

Eternal China.

But alas, there is the Eternal City, Rome....

Can't tell the players without a scorecard.......

[Morch]

I would go too. I've seen pretty much all that I would like to see in this world anyway. Death is a certainty, either in this world or another. How fantastic it would be to be able to go into space and land on another planet before drawing one's last breath.

Li Dapeng would be happy enough. One guy with 3 birds on a one way trip. " Who's going to know babe?"

What happens on (the way to) Mars, stays on Mars.

[Morch]

Wouldn't surprise me if it is a future resources grab, they'll claim Mars belongs to China.

Well, it's the "Red Planet"....

[GentlemanJim]

Despite not having his family's support, Li, a father in his 30s, said he would continue to be part of the project, though he might drop out halfway if his family voices strong disapproval.

I kind of think Mr Li has just blown his chances of the final short list with that one liner

[Publicus]

The state will ensure that Mr. Li's family will be absolutely thrilled by his full participation in the celestial program under the mandate of heaven.