{Arnaud Ndizihiwe, 22, is a Rwandan student in Australia who was recently selected by Mars One project among 1058 people likely to go starting a human colony on planet Mars by 2025.}
This young aspiring Rwandan astronaut who pursues a business degree at S P Jain School of Global Management talked to IGIHE’s Elisée Mpirwa and shared his road trip to Mars.
{{IGIHE}}: {How did you know about this venture?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: I first heard of Mars One on space.com, a popular website dedicated to space enthusiasts with all the latest news and trends on space exploration. I was lucky; applications for Round 1 which run from April 22, 2013 and closed on August 31, 2013 were still open. Mars one invited people from all nationalities, above the age of 18, to apply and become the first humans to step on planet Mars.
Applicants who applied to go to Mars: https://applicants.mars-one.com/
{{IGIHE}}: {Who heads this venture?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: Mars one is a private organization based in the Netherlands that plans to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2025. It is headed by Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp, founder and CEO.
How they plan to achieve this: http://www.mars-one.com/mission/roadmap
{{IGIHE}}: {When did you leave Rwanda?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: I left Rwanda in September 2010 to pursue a business degree at S P Jain School of global management Sydney.
{{IGIHE:}} {What can we know about you and what you do in Australia?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: I’m an ordinary student who got lucky. I finished high school at Petit Seminaire of Karubanda (Huye district). My home is in Kicukiro. I received a full scholarship on merit from S P Jain School of global management to study a 4 year BBA program, major in finance. After graduation in April 2014, I plan to start a career in financial auditing. I work part-time in retail and enjoy hiking in nice landscapes during my free time.
{{IGIHE}}: {Are you interested in Astronomy or have skills about it?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: Since my younger age, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of space exploration-too much curiosity. My dream is to see humanity expand into space, push the boundaries of knowledge and explore the unknown. 200 billion galaxies in our universe and we never left earth, let alone explore a different planet. Living on another planet, million miles away from earth, looking up knowing you were born in one of the stars in the sky, I want to be part of that dream and Mars one is the first opportunity I truly believe in.
{{IGIHE}}: {If selected to go living on Mars, what do you think your family will say?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: (Laughing) Of course they will reject it. It will be a very hard time convincing them. Selected astronauts will leave earth forever to start life on Mars and since then, Mars one will send additional inhabitants every two years until a permanent colony is formed. After all, among the 1058 selected, I’m one of the few candidates from Africa and if I make it to round 3 and 4, with all the publicity they will understand the depth and importance of this project. It won’t be easy but it’s a risk I’m willing to take, it’s for the sake of humanity.
{{IGIHE}}: {When is the next selection and how many will they choose?}
{{Ndizihiwe}}: {We’re in round 2 of the astronaut selection process. }
Candidates for Round 2 will need to get a medical statement of good health from their physician. The applicant will be invited to meet with a Mars One selection committee. After conducting an interview with the candidates, the selection committee determines who will pass to round three. This interview could be aired on TV and internet.
Round 3 is the regional selection round, which could be aired on TV and internet in countries around the world. In each region, 20-40 applicants will participate in challenges that demonstrate their suitability to become one of the first humans on Mars. The audience will select one winner per region and Mars One experts will select additional participants to continue to Round 4.
Round 4 will be an international event that will be broadcast throughout the world. The Mars One selection committee will create international groups of four candidates. The groups will be expected to demonstrate their ability to live in harsh living conditions, and work together under difficult circumstances. The groups will receive their first short term training in a copy of the Mars outpost. From the first selection series, six groups of four will become full time employees of the Mars One astronaut corps, after which they’ll train for the mission. Whole teams and individuals might be selected out during training when they prove not to be suitable for the mission.
More info: http://www.mars-one.com/faq
{{mpirwaelisee@igihe.rw}}
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