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Mars One dreams plummet back to Earth as company goes bankrupt
Published time: 12 Feb, 2019 10:18 Edited time: 12 Feb, 2019 10:32
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© Youtube / Mars One
The company hoped to send people on a one-way trip to Mars where they would settle for the rest of their lives as we on Earth watched it all unfold from the comfort of our couches.
Also on rt.com Mars One being one-way 'is the biggest appeal’: RT talks to prospective candidates
News of the company’s demise was only revealed thanks to a Reddit user who found a court notice from Basel, Switzerland which said it was declared bankrupt on January 15, 2019.
The group said it had 200,000 willing participants, but this was disputed by former NASA researcher Joseph Roche, who had volunteered for the project and said the real number was 2,761. He also said the selection process had a points system which could be increased by buying merchandise or donating money to the company.
Mars One made documentary videos about their red planet volunteers, which were sold on to broadcasters and buyers, and had planned to bring the intrepid colonizers to “a desert location to test their team skills” before setting off for Mars in 2026.
The project consists of Dutch non-profit Mars One Foundation and the for-profit Mars One Ventures, acquired by a Swiss financial services company in 2016.
“The bankruptcy only involves Mars One Ventures AG and does not affect the financial position of the Mars One Foundation, which is the driving force behind the mission,” Mars One said in a statement. “The Mars One Foundation is actively continuing its efforts to secure funding for mission next steps, either through the listed company or directly into the Foundation.”
In July, the company reported it had an investment from Phoenix Enterprises for up to $14 million that was meant to be used to pay for licensing fees and re-list Mars One Ventures on the stock exchange.
The project has been panned for not being realistic at all as an effort to colonize the red planet. Among its critics are MIT researchers, who said the plan would simply kill off all the Mars settlers.
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HomeWorld News
Mars One dreams plummet back to Earth as company goes bankrupt
Published time: 12 Feb, 2019 10:18 Edited time: 12 Feb, 2019 10:32
Get short URL
© Youtube / Mars One
- 95
The company hoped to send people on a one-way trip to Mars where they would settle for the rest of their lives as we on Earth watched it all unfold from the comfort of our couches.
Also on rt.com Mars One being one-way 'is the biggest appeal’: RT talks to prospective candidates
News of the company’s demise was only revealed thanks to a Reddit user who found a court notice from Basel, Switzerland which said it was declared bankrupt on January 15, 2019.
The group said it had 200,000 willing participants, but this was disputed by former NASA researcher Joseph Roche, who had volunteered for the project and said the real number was 2,761. He also said the selection process had a points system which could be increased by buying merchandise or donating money to the company.
Mars One made documentary videos about their red planet volunteers, which were sold on to broadcasters and buyers, and had planned to bring the intrepid colonizers to “a desert location to test their team skills” before setting off for Mars in 2026.
The project consists of Dutch non-profit Mars One Foundation and the for-profit Mars One Ventures, acquired by a Swiss financial services company in 2016.
“The bankruptcy only involves Mars One Ventures AG and does not affect the financial position of the Mars One Foundation, which is the driving force behind the mission,” Mars One said in a statement. “The Mars One Foundation is actively continuing its efforts to secure funding for mission next steps, either through the listed company or directly into the Foundation.”
In July, the company reported it had an investment from Phoenix Enterprises for up to $14 million that was meant to be used to pay for licensing fees and re-list Mars One Ventures on the stock exchange.
The project has been panned for not being realistic at all as an effort to colonize the red planet. Among its critics are MIT researchers, who said the plan would simply kill off all the Mars settlers.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
