It sounds like a headline from a science fiction novel, but it’s true. Mars One recently outlined what characteristics they will be looking for while selecting applicants in mid-2013. Surprisingly, it could be open to any well-rounded individual passionate enough about the mission.

For those of you unfamiliar with the not-for-profit foundation, Mars One, it is a private project created by Dutch entrepreneur, Bas Lansdorp. Their mission; ‘to boldly go where no man has gone before’, and create a permanent human settlement on the Red Planet in 2023. Although this might sound impossible, Lansdorp states that all the technology for this endeavor currently exists. What makes Mars One a more feasible project then NASA or ESA proposals is that it’s a one-way trip. The astronauts are volunteering for life. The first mission will consist of four people, but the plan is to send more settlers every two years.

The application process is sure to be rigorous and thorough, but shockingly to many, a doctorate in medicine or physics is not required. Some reporters have even joked that the requirements sound like an ‘entry-level position’. The project’s major concern is finding people that can live in dangerous environmental conditions and stay friends. Lansdorp says they can teach anybody the skills they will need in the extensive eight year training program, so it’s more important to look for the ‘kind of person you want to be stranded with’. Mars One is looking for five characteristics in their future astronauts:  resiliency, adaptability, curiosity, creativity/resourcefulness, and the ability to trust yourself and others.

Plans for funding Mars One are as unique as the rest of the project. Initial funds have been generated by the donations of wealthy philanthropists captivated by the ambitious journey. It has sufficiently raised the millions necessary to get Mars One off the ground, but Lansdorp estimates the project will cost around 6 billion. How will the money be raised? Lansdorp refers to the Olympics ability to raise about one billion a week in advertising revenue. It makes sense considering that everyone on Earth will be watching this monumental human achievement. It’s estimated that about four billion people will be viewing the initial launch. The colonization will continue to be documented, aired, and sponsored; becoming a cosmic reality show. It might sound ridiculous, but creating a ‘Martian Truman Show’ might be the only way to get enough worldwide interest and financial support.