The new space pioneers: What does it take to live on Mars?

With the number of applicants vying for an opportunity to take part in a one-way mission to Mars now down to just over 700, organizers of the Mars One project are now focusing on selecting the perfect mix of individuals who have the physical and mental capacity to live on the red planet.

The list of applicants for the Mars One mission was cut down to 705 candidates last week, from a previous 1,058. The successful candidates represent several different countries from around the world, with a total of 54 Canadians making the grade.

The candidates will next face a series of interviews, assessments and challenges to prove that they have what it takes to compete and participate in the ambitious project, which seeks to establish a permanent human colony on Mars starting in 2025.

In addition to being in good physical and mental health, the applicants who are eventually selected to go should also possess a few key character traits including: creativity, problem-solving skills and, most importantly, the ability to work with others, says Mars One Chief Medical Officer Dr. Norbert Kraft.

Kraft, a former NASA researcher who studies ways to enhance team performance for exploration missions, admits that finding candidates who fit the bill isn't always the easiest task.

"What I've found from my experience, the people are the problem," Kraft told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview. "The key is (asking) 'can you be a team member, can you work as a team.' "

He noted that those who are ultimately selected will face long, isolated months travelling to Mars, which poses a significant challenge. This is, he said, where creativity becomes crucial.

"If you look at other studies, they've found that the people are bored. And when somebody's in an isolated environment and he's bored, it means he lacks some creativity," Kraft said. "If he lacks some creativity, what is he doing on Mars?"

Mars One is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2011. The brainchild of Dutch entrepreneur Bas Landorp, the project initially saw more than 200,000 people apply from 100 different countries to be part of the mission.

Since its launch, some critics have called the project unfeasible, based on its ambitious timeline and relatively low projected budget of $6 billion to send the first four-man crew to Mars.

Still, Kraft said the selection committee is ultimately looking for participants who can brainstorm to overcome any challenges they may face during the mission, in a "MacGyver-like" fashion.

Using the popular 1980s TV series as an analogy, Kraft said that it is important that the first batch of applicants who are sent to Mars know how to problem solve, as there will initially be very few resources on the planet to help them.

"On Mars, we cannot just send anything there (that you need), so you have to make do with what you have and you have to be absolutely creative in that," he said.

In addition to being assessed on their character, qualified applicants will eventually have to compete in teams in a series of challenges on a reality TV show.

Members of the public will be invited to vote for their favourite applicants throughout the show, with the selection committee scoring the applicants as well. Those individuals with the best scores will ultimately take part in the mission.

The challenges in the TV series will simulate actual challenges the applicants may face while travelling to Mars, Kraft said.

For example, contestants could be asked to enter a small radiation shelter, four to a room, and remain in the small space for a period of up to three weeks, he said. This would mimic what they may be required to do if they encounter solar flares while travelling to Mars.

Kraft acknowledged that broadcasting the competition might cause some additional pressures and stresses, but maintains that it is an important part of the mission, as it will serve to both engage and educate the general public.

"You'll really see how the cultures react, how they overcome challenges, how they work together and how they achieve their new goals," he said. "We can learn from that."

He added that the show will not resemble many of the current popular reality TV shows, where a certain amount of "back-stabbing" and "lying" can occur.

And despite the new and unknown stresses the competitors will face during the rigorous selection process -- which they can also expect to face when they eventually reach Mars -- Kraft has no fear that any of the applicants will suffer a breakdown.

"It's a different approach: it is a settlement on Mars – a settlement which means that they will build up a little community, a little village, a little town, a city," he said. "They will be building a new society and that's what they're looking for -- building a society, building a nation by itself."

He noted that while the idea of leaving Earth behind for life on a relatively unknown planet may seem strange to some, it's always been part of the human experience to want to explore new things.

"It's like a calling, a purpose in life, although it's not for everybody," he said.