Three residents from Dubai shortlisted for one-way trip to Mars

Dubai: Three Dubai residents now stand a chance of becoming the first human colonists on Mars by 2025. Indian Ritika Singh, 28, Russian Gleb Osipov, 24 and Polish Mikolaj, 37 who calls himself M1-K0 are among the 705 candidates still hopeful of getting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


The three have made it to Round 2 of the selection process of Mars One, a not-for-profit foundation aiming to establish permanent human life on Mars. This was the first major cut that eliminated 353 hopefuls from the around the world, a third of potential Mars settlers.


“I am currently determining whether Martians fight or are peaceful,” says Mikolaj in a tongue-in-cheek introduction on the Mars One community platform. The sci-fi enthusiast lists ‘utilising energy from solar powered satellites and creating artificial life’ as his interests.


Singh, the last remaining woman candidate from Dubai, says travelling and adapting to new cultures are her biggest passions. “I had dreamt of going to Mars since the age of five and I am glad that I stand a chance to accomplish my childhood dream,” says Singh who lists photography, adventure sports, reading and swimming, amongst her other interests.