Saskatoon man one of few left on Mars One list

An artist's rendition of the Mars One settlement is shown in a handout photo. (Bryan Versteeg / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

A Saskatoon man is one step closer towards his dream of going to the red planet.

Justin Semenoff, 35, posted on Twitter last week that he is one of the just over 700 people in the running to take part in the Mars One mission.

Mars One plans to establish a permanent human colony on Mars in 2024. The process began last year with almost 80,000 applicants worldwide. Now, after major cuts, only 54 Canadians remain making it to the interview phase of the application.

Although it may be a chance of a lifetime, the $6 billion project has a catch — it’s a one-way ticket for one. Semenoff would have to leave his family and his son, Levi, behind if he is chosen.

He told CTV news last July that though leaving them would be difficult, the trip will be worth it.

“What we have to gain from it, and not just myself, but people as a whole, there’s so much to be learned. Just taking the first step might gain us so much,” Semenoff said.

The first Mars One trip is scheduled for 2023, with additional trips taking place every two years after that.