Social welfare director makes it closer to Mars mission

UT social welfare department director Rajesh Jogpal has made it to the second round of ambitious “Mars One” programme that aims at establishing a colony on Mars by 2024. The Netherlands-based non-profit organisation Mars One had announced the selection of candidates with a view to establish human life on Mars.

UT social welfare department director Rajesh Jogpal has made it to the second round of ambitious “Mars One” programme that aims at establishing a colony on Mars by 2024.

HT Image

The Netherlands-based non-profit organisation Mars One had announced the selection of candidates with a view to establish human life on Mars.

Crews of four will depart every two years, starting in 2024. The applicants came from over 140 countries and more than 20,000 Indians had applied for the first round.

Indians constitute the second largest number of applicants after America followed closely by China at the third spot.

Out of total, as many as 1,058 candidates were shortlisted across the world, out of which 62 had been selected from India. Jogpal will not have to undergo stringent medical test before qualifying for the third round.

The NGO will hold a meeting with the candidates who have made it to the second round on January 18 in Bangalore.

Talking to HT, Jogpal said he had applied for the mission after he came to know about it through websites. He added that he was excited about the prospect of moving to Mars.