Would you accept a one-way trip?
And for 6 years since I started training and working on my goal seriously, the answer still hasn’t changed. But I hope it does someday, probably for the better.
The question is simple “If you got on a one-way trip to Mars, would you accept it as an astronaut?”
Yes. The answer is yes. Why? Because I don’t think I have a lot to lose. Science, research, and innovation have always come at a cost. And usually, the first ones through the wall always get their hands bloodied.
Make no mistake, this is not about some sort of glory or some god complex that I want to be one of the first humans on Mars. But in some way inspiring people or having hope that not all is lost.
Someone has to do it, right? There are oil rig workers, firefighters, and EMTs — these are not at all easy jobs to have. They take a lot of physical and mental toll on you. If everyone chickened out of jobs like these, I highly doubt society would function well.
I would gladly go on a one-way trip because I don’t have a family, I don’t have anyone right now I would die for, and I don’t have kids who rely on me for support. I don’t have people who worry about me — Which is probably a good thing.
It’s easier to achieve a lot of things in life when you have nothing to lose and probably everything to gain.
It’s easier to push yourself when you know nobody cares if you might lose achieving something.
It’s easier to go in full throttle for your ambitions and dreams when you know the bill of regret will be much higher than the bill of failure.
It is a completely different ballgame when you do have a family or kids to worry about.
If I am that shuttle to Mars, I am very well aware of the privilege I am in. I am standing on the shoulders of giants to pave the way for future explorers, scientists, engineers, and researchers who also want to progress humanity for the sake of science.
The truth is everybody calls you crazy until you do something and then suddenly you’re a genius. And that’s the beauty of it all — the unpredictability of the journey. It’s not about the destination but the steps we take to get there. Mars represents the unknown, the uncharted, and the unimaginable.
Imagine standing on the red planet, looking back at Earth — a tiny blue dot in the vastness of space. The feeling of isolation would be immense, but so would the sense of accomplishment. Every experiment conducted, every rock analyzed, and every piece of data sent back to Earth would be a step forward for humanity.
It’s not just about personal sacrifice but about the collective progress of our species. The risks are high, but so are the rewards. The technologies developed for a mission to Mars would have far-reaching benefits back on Earth. Medical advancements, new materials, energy solutions — these are just some of the potential by-products of such a mission. The ripple effects would be felt across the globe, improving lives in ways we can’t yet imagine.
Some might say it’s a fool’s errand, a waste of resources. But history has shown us that exploration and innovation are never wasted. The voyages of Columbus, the moon landing, the exploration of the deep sea — each of these milestones seemed impossible at the time, yet they paved the way for progress. They expanded our horizons, both literally and figuratively.
So, would I go on a one-way trip to Mars? Absolutely. Not just for the adventure, but for the opportunity to be a part of something greater than myself. To contribute to a legacy of exploration and discovery.
And secretly I do hope that I end up finding something that knocks some senses into me and walks me out of this insane idea. But until then, I ain’t stopping.
