Lionsgate TV Teams with Mars One for Reality Series
Mars colony (Credit: Mars One)
It looks like Lionsgate TV has won the sweepstakes to produce the Mars One reality series, which will chronicle the effort by “eccentric Dutch billionaire entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp” to colonize the Red Planet.
Mars One calls for new groups of four to be sent to Mars every two years, beginning no later than 2024. Announced last year, the scientific project already has received almost 300,000 applications from all over the world, which are being whittled down. Lionsgate TV is expected to start its own casting search, with the two selection processes ultimately merged.
For the next several years, the series would be covering the different stages of preparation for the mission, starting with participant selection and the finalists — called candidates — undergoing an 8-year training protocol. The series’ cast will evolve as candidates in the mission drop out and new ones are brought in.
“This is a social experiment that focuses on the people that would sign for something like this — they have to agree to participate and be willing to go on a one-way mission, knowing that if you go, you can never come back,” said Roy Bank, who is producing the project as part of his overall deal with Lionsgate TV.
The participant search is complex because the mission would require a lot more than astronaut skills. “They’re colonizing Mars and starting a new society, so this group needs to possess a wide variety of skills — from medical to engineering to social as they are going to live with each other.”
The last part will be tested with the candidates on Earth as they are sequestered in a Biosphere-type isolated environment for an extended period of time to find the right mix. Adding another layer to the dynamic within the group is male-female interaction.
“They will serve as a microcosm of a larger society, so it is not only about how they get along but also how they procreate; they have to create new life so the society grows,” Bank said. He called the show “a true social experiment.”
Most series in the so-called social experiment genre — like Survivor, on which Bank worked, and Big Brother – are a mix of a social experiment and a game show, with contestants moved away from society for a limited period of time and competing for a cash prize.
In Mars One, “the commitment is so much greater and much longer than TV season(s) would last; even before they would ever be put on a rocket, they need to be willing go for a longer period of time if not forever. Nobody knows if they will pull it off.” The last part leads us to one of the most controversial aspects of Mars One: “What makes it such fascinating social experiment the ethics of it,” Bank said. “Would a show like this be involved in promoting a suicide mission?”
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70 responses to “Lionsgate TV Teams with Mars One for Reality Series”
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This is the first time I’ve seen Bas Lansdorp referred to as a billionaire. Is he?
i know multiple articles have said he’s made a “fortune” on various business ventures, but i’ve never seen a number for his net worth, either.
Yeah I am pretty sure he’s not a billionaire 🙂 In the Netherlands there are only like 7 and he’s not among them… (yet? ;))
Billionaire in what currency?
Billionaire in spe 🙂
what is the governing body which allows people to go to Mars?
This is so wrong on so many levels. Seems more like some kind of nazi experiment, or gladiatorial televised death ritual, than — than what? Is this just for our entertainment? For science? Did they all miss the first year ethics lecture? I feel like the world has gone insane, and is now run, and controlled, by a load of money crazed autistic lizard people. The f**king conspiracy theorists were right all along!? The hell!
the point is to start a colony on Mars. they would all be volunteers, knowing full well the risks and rewards.
the UN doesn’t have any branch that deals with access to space.
my point is, there’s no one who has the authority to tell them they cannot go.
that’s nice. where does it say that people can’t go to Mars?
no, it’s not forbidden by international law.
Any regulatory body at any at all levels will refuse to send people *knowingly* off to their deaths. Lots of people died trying to get to space — their loses were not martyrdom to the cause. They were wake up calls!!!! Lots of people died trying to break the sound barrier. None of them wanted to. Lots of people tried building aircraft, parachutes, and rockets, and none that died wanted to. There has never been an expedition where people have set out intending on never getting back. The people that volunteered — like anyone who has contemplated suicide — have not factored in the affects killing themselves will have on the emotions of their loved ones. Imagine all the inspiration from the apollo program, now invert it into a horrific sideshow of death on a lonely planet. It’s just unbelievable anyone should even contemplate such a thing. It’s like the frikken anti-matter of inspiration!
On top of this I’ve never understood the logic of colonizing mars. The excuse Elon always gives is to “have a backup” I’m sorry? A back up — ummm….. Living on Mars would be worse than living on Earth IN ALL IMAGINABLE SCENARIOS APART FROM THE EARTH ACTUALLY EXPLODING INTO NOTHING. If an asteroid hits earth, if the atmosphere blows away — its all no big deal compared to the conditions on Mars. It does my head in. I can understand a natural migration to mars when technology makes it possible to give man some kind of impermeable film coating, somehow self sustaining in all environments — and maybe then, after some kind of gravity warp drive has been invented — and even then. Why the F**ck would you want to go to mars again? I’m sure there is a planet out there that is much better (hint: It’s probably not in our solar system).Sure, it will be good to push technology forward (a trip to mars). But to colonize it? It’s a fantasy — a poorly thought through, aesthetically, ethically, and emotionally poorly thought out fantasy. By a bunch of high functioning idiots.
we do have this nice technology called space suits. adapting one for use in the environment of Mars wouldn’t be terribly difficult.
so why go to Mars? why move to this hypothetical “better” planet you mention? to go somewhere else. or because it’s there. Mars is within the reach of humanity to reach and, with the help of technology, to live on.
No. Mars is an expedition — not an immigration. I’m not arguing against expedition. How many people live in the antarctic? Scientists live there — for a time. The reason you don’t immigrate there is because it makes no sense in the term of immigration (economic, empowerment, freedom, etc)
unless you want to go to mars so you are living on Mars. that’s pretty awesome 🙂
Hmmm… It seems awesome. The Mars 500 guys thought it might be cool. It was not easy for them! You should look into it. And the prospect of no return in that kind of environment? Very very nuts. I hope the guys at mars one read all my brilliant posts and change their minds (that was a joke). But seriously. It’s really really not cool.
i’m well aware of Mars 500
it’s nuts… TO YOU. for some people, it’s not.
Also — if they found another planet that was better than earth, I might think about immigrating for sure!!!
Antarctica is not a good example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik…
Basically, treaties prohibit what it would take to make this feasible.
Personally, I continue to say that we SHOULD put a nuke reactor there, along with a small prototype for a mars colony and see how it goes. We need to put multiple BA units there, along with having ppl walk around in a space suit. After all, if WILL have to handle similar temps.
So, what do you care that Musk is an idiot and it costs you nothing? In fact, you will have cheap access to space.
The rest of us who believe that being on multiple planets will simply go to our doom, without bothering you or others like you.
None of my points had to do with money. I’m talking about human lives, human safety, and well being. Anyone who thinks living on mars in the proposed conditions will be in any way beneficial to the well being of the participants is living in lala land. I am a humanist — bottom line. If you want to bring the military into this you are going down the wrong track. WW2 was one of the last justifiable wars in human history. I have all respect to soldiers(!!!) but if you are telling me you agree with the politics, and economics, and ethics of war then we… well I won’t even go there(for reasons of never-mind). People are going on and on about becoming trans-human. I think we have to learn to be human first. But I’m all for exploration, and labs on mars, etc. Just you can’t leave people there. If they want it, that’s up to them, but you have to have a way back open. Mars One is not that.
First off, Mars 1 is a joke. Musk is not.
Secondly, you seem to think that ppl will NOT willingly take risks with their lives for the betterment of human kind.
My dad fought in the Cold War, as did I (I dealt with other WMD from USSR).
With Nukes, it was MAD that kept us from destroying each other’s nations, and that was NOT a bad thing.
Do I agree with war? Nope. Do I realize that they will happen? Yup. BUT, that was not the point. The point was that ppl WILL PUT OTHERS FIRST.
You seem to miss that point because you are too quickly trying to defend your POV, rather than realizing that many ppl, including myself, will willing give up our lives to advance mankind. And yes, putting a colony on mars, with nobody coming back within 10 years, actually is an advancement (in particular, it keeps the earth from being contaminated if their is life on Mars; and yes, it might mean that these ppl WOULD die from the disease ).
THis would be no different than say madam curie, or chemists/pilots today. Heck, when I was working at CDC, we had a lab accident and I was subjected to a fair amount of radiation (C’est la vie). Ppl take risks all the time. Some of us would gladly trade 10-15 years of our lives to make a difference to this world, and/or a new one.
I realize that there is NO way to convince you (or others such as Chufu) that ppl will volunteer for this. In addition, NASA and the world WILL allow it. The reason is that any rational person KNOWS that we MUST expand, or die. That is why ALL of the brightest ppl in the world continue to push this.
I am familiar with the argument that bringing humanity to the brink of annihilation might have been a good thing for the human race. In terms that it was a wake up call never to do anything like that again. For the betterment of mankind is also dangerous territory. It is usually the excuse used in the ubermench creation argument. There is finding a cure, and giving it away for free (polio), and then there is the other greedy-ass shady shit people openly fantasize about getting up to on mars.
LOL;
First, You do NOT know your history at all.
The federal gov. developed it by funding Jonas Salk. And back then, we kept these developments here.
Eli lily was first granted the rights to develop the vaccine and sell it. THen other nations bought the rights as well. It was NOT FREE by any means. In addition, the vaccines were sold in large quantities that made it cheap.
Now, eli lily was the first company to produce it. Back then, normal profits were 1-2% for a high-tech company like them. The reason is that all of the R&D was done by the federal gov. More importantly, since companies had executives that were not allowed to own shares in their industries, they focused on LONG-TERM profits, not short-term stock prices.
Now, as to:
“then there is the other greedy-ass shady shit people openly fantasize about getting up to on mars.”
If Elon was as greedy as you claim, he would openly IPO SpaceX TODAY. Yet, he does not. So why not? I mean with Tesla he is worth 6 billion already. He could IPO today and be the richest man on this planet.
The reason is because if he IPOs than others will run the company. Tesla, along with Solar City, have stockholders who demand profits and want SHORT-TERM RESULTS.
Musk is working hard to make LONG-TERM PROFITS and more importantly, to change the world for better.
When Tesla releases Gen III, it will have forced all of the other car makers to leave ICE cars and go to electric.
Solar City is quietly shopping to buy a solar cell manufacturer in the west. They are near to being able to cut out China (and yes, they want to cut china out).
But SpaceX WILL GO TO MARS. And it is NOT about being greedy, but about a man that wants to change the world. Simple as that.
However, I have to ask why you think that he is being greedy?
The one time I attacked Elon was for the excuses he gave for wanting to colonize mars. By greedy ass shady shit, I meant, a lot of reasons given for wanting to go to mars (aside from Elons own “backup” creep0 plan) had to do with IP development. Generally. Like people have this idea of a kind of private version of the ISS where you don’t need to follow regulations, and technology can be sold to earth (I’m not sure if Elon said this (did I mention Elon in this respect?)) Listen — I like Elon. I think his backup plan is well dark (we are not data — and if you are talking DNA — well put it in a bottle and sent it there — there’s your backup — and it doesn’t involve some twisted Adam and Eve shit). Honestly just think about it a little bit. I am aware Elon is against IP as much as I am. Backup — think about it. Has there been any elaboration on this weak point? I am waiting for it, and will be happy to change my mind when it is expanded upon. Also: Mars one (go up and read what this comment deluge is actually sitting under).
????
First off, I am a fan of sending large number of eggs/sperm from a large number of animals to Mars, along with seeds, and putting it deep in the ground.
The fact is, that we do NOT know what the future holds. Simple as that.
That is also why Page has said that he will NOT give his billions to Charity like Gates is doing (who is simply trying to buy ppl to like him). Instead, he would give it to musk so that musk would create loads of new tech and jobs.
I am not certain what your issue with Musk and IP is about?
He has openly backed the hyperloop project (well, his name), kept it open and is letting other develop it. In addition, he and the Google boys will provide funding for it down the road. All of that IP will be in the open.
Now, he is NOT leaving SpaceX’s (and much of Tesla’s) IP in the open. The reason is China. China steals and steals and then uses it against the west. Musk has the right idea. But, you appear to think that Musk should share that IP with China? Let me point out that CHinese business AND THE GOV. regularly sue for IP infringement here, BUT, they are a joke about the west going there for constant theft.
So, what issue do you have all of this?
I’ve said all I need to say on mars one and mars “immigration”. Unethical, and irresponsible. “That is also why Page has said that he will NOT give his billions to Charity like Gates is doing (who is simply trying to buy ppl to like him)” — There has been a LOT of research done on this. The age old question — fund private business/industry vs social/humanitarian. Again and again it has been shown that the latter holds the highest economic long-term benefits PERIOD (by far (do your homework)). But I’m thinking this clarifies your cold views on that side of things pretty well, doesn’t it? All the technology silicon valley has pumped out combined doesn’t hold a candle to money spent on education, social welfare, and health in terms of economic benefits. Bill Gates knows this. Of course you have to have both — but there you go. It’s not a case of chicken and egg — if you *don’t* live in a world were education and health is heavily invested in, you live in the third world. All the people who came from the bottom know this. And when I say heavily invested in — I mean that. I’m not talking about some second rate communist make a show of things while shunning capitalism. Capitalism is good when it’s good (when people have respect for it/don’t treat consumers with contempt). Kids/people can’t become entrepreneurs if they have no shoulders to stand on, and no chance to be forgiven for failure (which most of these ventures do).
I am also grateful for your arguments. This is a discussion that needs to be had. I really hope there are a lot of arguments like this going on. It’s definitely mind-expanding I’ll say that. And something with no definite answers. I’m not one for dictating my views. I’m just bashing the gong in my bed-sheet because this is some serious and dark stuff. I’m not even sure how I feel about “the betterment of mankind”. Many people have written about that in novels because there’s so much ambiguity to it.
“There has never been an expedition where people have set out intending on never getting back.” sure there has. it happens all the time, it’s called immigration. you move to another country, intending to never go back. the only difference in this case is they want to go to Mars.
No. People only immigrate to get to a better place, or to escape a worse place. There is nothing on Mars.
that’s just like, your opinion, man.
Mars is a really interesting place. I’d love to go there and explore. If i didn’t have responsibilities here on Earth, i’d have signed up for Mars One in a heartbeat.
nothing on Mars? nothing? … LOL
there was nothing in the Americas, or Australia either.
Ok — yes, I suppose if you force people to move to mars with no choice but to stay — yes — that would be comparable to what happened in America, and Australia. Those countries were built on the corpses of the people who HAD(no choice) but to stay. Do you know *anything* about history?
who would be FORCED to go to mars on a 1-way mission?
Just because you do not want it, does not mean that millions would not be volunteering to go.
Also, few that went to America were forced. Nearly all chose to go and KNEW that it was a 1-way trip. Yes, there was death, but hey, there was a LOT of death in Europe as well. That is why many of them chose to leave.
Australia was a bit different. That was a penal colony. Still America was not.
And yes, I know a bit about history. In fact, I know when my relatives came here and why
I mean forced by circumstance. I am also second generation immigrant (communism refugees). If you move to mars because you think it will make your life better… I really have trouble with that. I am straining, but the more I think about it, the less sense it makes. And going to better mankind — betterment of mankind is usually unscripted. When it’s forced, more often than not, the opposite occurs. I Think the best reason to go would be romantic reasons. It is very rare that a romance lasts. I am willing to admit I am underplaying inspiration. Inspiration is great. Mars is a dot in the sky. Earth is a dot from mars. It scares me… the moon walkers said the isolation was pretty hardcore — the desolation. Who could cope with that? Close your eyes and try to imagine it. The time delay, nakedness, the sheer horror, THE HORROR!!!! Heart of darkness/apocalypse-now kind of shit. I am a submariner (I’m cozy, but not in a nuclear kind of way). But every person has limits (time limits — in these conditions (bring anti-depressants boys and girls)). We were crafted by evolution.
yes, obviously i can read. nowhere does that say that it’s illegal to bring people to Mars.
“shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party”. Unless it is the state party of omicron persei eight, I doubt “bringing people to mars” WITHOUT BRINGING THEM BACK will ever be allowed. I could be wrong… and probably am, but I do have *some* faith in humanity.
What kind of a freak wants to send people to mars without bringing them back? Are you Satan? Hah! Hi… What will you give me for my soul?
so you don’t want to go. don’t go. simple. let those who want to go, go. live and let live, man.
well no. I don’t have a problem with people going. I have a problem with allowing people to go when they will have NO CHOICE but to stay!!! Oh shit guys — I changed my mind. Ummm… Nope. It’s very ugly. It does not equate to immigration. It equates to a one way expedition (suicide mission). People don’t immigrate to the desert, or antarctic. They go there to explore, no probs with that at all.
what if they choose to stay? that’s their choice.
not everyone is as wishy-washy and unreliable as you. some people say they will do something, and then do it.
lol You win man. Blame the victim (which is what they will find themselves to be if they sign up to this godforsaken scheme).
they are going into it knowing exactly what they are signing up for.
they aren’t victims.
Why do you have an issue with ppl that want to live elsewhere? Heck, I would be a lot more concerned with flying there AND BACK. The trips are where you will get a load of radiation and will have shortened lives. It has been calculated that anybody who goes there AND BACK will lose 20-30 years (minimum). Somebody that goes there will lose 10-15 MAX.
And yet, we allow ppl to enlist into the military with the knowledge that they might die. In fact, in a number of case, they also volunteer for missions that are known ahead of time will almost certainly be suicidal, unless everything goes 100% correctly.
Heck, my Dad flew a B-47 that had a mission that was to go into a part of USSR and deliver the only cargo that the B-47 delivered. From there, he could fly to Finland.
The problem was that the ONLY way to make that flight is if they flew 100% economical mode. If they pushed it in the least, they could not make Finland.
And when you are carrying a 3 MTon nuke, I can promise you that you will NOT be flying in economical mode.
IOW, it was a pure suicide mission.
Actually, the smartest thing IS to send ppl on a 1-way mission, with the idea that in about 10-15 years, we will start allowing ppl to return to earth. However, that is contingent on not finding ANY life on Mars, and building a fast transport.
Sending someone to mars will lower their life time. But it is the slow return trip that really cuts into things.
And lets be honest. You will not go to Mars. It is not your cup of tea. I would happily go when I was single, and once my kids are grown up, I would LOVE to move there for a 1-way mission (I will likely be too old though). To help colonize a planet, and make a difference matters to me, and others.
“And lets be honest. You will not go to Mars. It is not your cup of tea.” I’ve had Doug tell me I’m wishy-washy, and I don’t want to go too. That’s rubbish. Of course I’d love to. I JUST WANT TO COME BACK. I don’t want to be the USSR cosmonaut cursing ground-control as I burn up in the atmosphere because I knew ground control was more interested in pushing the mission than my LIFE.
Yes, but a 1-way mission in which a person stays a MINIMUM of 10 years on Mars is NOT an intended suicide. Far from it.
And as far as coming back, some of these ppl will likely come back, after multiple missions have gone out there, and when we have a FAST return ship, i.e. NERVA.
I called you “wishy washy” because you said that people will get to Mars and immediately want to turn around and go home. that’s your opinion, which reflects upon your attitude about the world. you might flip-flop and want to go back to Earth, but not everyone is like that. there are people who say they want to go to Mars and stay there, and they would remain steadfast in that. Mars One is looking for those kind of people.
why not?
why would NASA object to sending ppl to Mars, WHO WANT TO GO?
They will not.
NASA will not stop this. It would quickly go into the courts.
From the European’s POV, there was nothing here. They FOUND the Indian nations, but did not expect it, any more than when Columbus found Americas.
The point is, that unless you go there and look, we will never know what is there.
Science-Fiction is fun 🙂
Delusion arises from a malfunctioning of imagination — a complete lack of *consideration*. Things go really wrong when you have problems with your imagination. Failures in systems are usually attributed to lack of imagination (to the possible failures, and repercussions). Esp. in regards to human life (manipulation of, and disregard for).
lol. did you have a point?
Esp. in regards to human life (manipulation of, and disregard for). RE: Mars One. Also in regards for the complete lack of imagination in regards to being in the Martian environment for *indefinite* periods of time. In the Navy it’s bad enough (attrition). You would probably call it flakyness. I’d call it being human, and having to take this into consideration for best possible results (as I’m sure NASA, and *shock* yes — the military — actually do their best to do).
And what brings you to the conclusion that Mars one has disregard for human life?
not just “they’ll die on mars waaaaaaaahhhhhhh” no crying like a baby here. living and dying on Mars is the POINT of Mars One.
so what makes you think that they have not taken into consideration worst case scenarios and the many hardships that will be faced due to the unforgiving nature of the Martian environment? what, in your words, makes you think they lack imagination?
“they’ll die on mars waaaaaaaahhhhhhh” — I think that’s a brilliant bookend to the conversation.
a pretty good summary of your side of it, anyway.
I doubt it. I suspect that 90% or more of the first 1000 will be scientists and engineers.
The truth is this effort is full of half realities. Like the TV show Shark Tank, some of the people just want in the program for some notoriety or advantage towards another effort. Other people want to go but don’t really realize what living in a tin can or space suit when outside would mean for the rest of their lives. Anyone with some suicide concept will be ruled out through years of screening (probably).
Most importantly is the incomplete concept of them staying the rest of their lives (assuming them to be lengthy). For a colony to work, it must be self sustaining: food, materials, complex supplies, etc. Otherwise the colony must be supplied from earth. For the colony to reach a point of being self sustaining, it will have to reach certain size points which also requires a specific number of people to maintain it in addition to having some productive output (many years at one mission per two years). If the colony has to be supplied forever, it becomes a drain on someones budget and Mars One is not government sponsored. Once TV and franchise proceeds dwindle the colony will be dropped on some (?) government to save. But if the colony were to produce some product or basic research to pay for itself, suppling it becomes sustainable. At this point two way traffic becomes a likely reality. Therefore a return trip could then be possible. Otherwise hang it up!
BTW, if you know your history, there were 100’s of different tribes in USA alone. Likewise, there 100’s if not closer to 1000’s of tribes in South America. And most were warring on each other.
do you have any specific reason why you say “the volunteers will not survive there” please back up your assertion with evidence.
these are all possible, of course.
however, these things can be mitigated by the crew being well trained in advance of working on the hardware. being very familiar with how they work and how to react in emergency situations. they will have at least 8 years to train for these things. i’m sure everything you mentioned will be covered in their training.
the most apt analogy is the crew on the ISS. the Mars One team will be in a very similar situation. the ISS recently had a suit failure, which very fortunately didn’t result in a death, but they managed to get him back inside and work on the problem. however, overall, the ISS has had a great safety record, in spite of a number of problems. no fatalities have occurred on the ISS (or any space station).
but these things happen here on Earth, too. mechanical failures, human error, etc.
in the USA, 90 to 120 per day, 2,000 to 3,000 per month, and 30,000 to 40,000 per year for vehicle collisions alone. work related fatalities are approximately 12 per day, 90 per week, and 4,000 per year. you’re much more likely, of course, to die from health issues. heart disease and cancer each kill about 600,000 people per year.
really? Did those companies and groups have patents on those designs? Or do you mean that Musk used parts of designs from other companies? For example, the Merlin 1a was NOT TRW, but from NASA’s engine.
The turbopump was bought directly from the same company (located about 40 miles north of me) for 1A and C.
BUT, I agree with the rest. He is clever, at taking open designs and using it, while stepping upwards. Merlin 1D is a fully redesigned spaceX engine. More importantly, their raptor is even more so.
And I agree with you about SpaceX innovation. In fact, I felt that grasshopper and now the 9R was not innovative. That is, until I checked and found out that the 9R will be the FIRST occurrence of a rocket stage that actually went to space and returned. Not even the shuttle boosters went that far up and returned, so, this IS innovative.
why do you assume it cannot be achieved by Mars One?
What evidence do you have that they cannot do it?
that’s certainly a possibility, but let’s assume for the moment that that they do collect the requisite money and are able to fly people to Mars.