The Mars One Foundation, an organisation preparing to send the first human settlers to Mars, has joined forces with University of Twente, Netherlands in a partnership where researchers at the university will help tackle specific mission challenges.

Both partners see many starting points of collaboration in the future. To start with, experts from Mars One will contribute to one of the academic semesters at new ATLAS University College, to be launched on September 2013 within the University of Twente

Mars Space Mission and Mars One

In the ATLAS project on a Mars Space Mission, students will exploit new combinations of technological and societal solutions.

That means for example translating psychological aspects of the seven-month trip to Mars (one way, four people in a very small space, devoid of luxury, with constant noise from ventilators, computer and life support systems) to selecting and training the crew and the design of the cabin and the base. It can include inventing a system to enlarge the space within the rocket by four times its volume once it has left the atmosphere, designed such that chances are enhanced that space travelers will reach Mars in both physical and mental health. It is about analyzing the severe stress conditions (low gravity, cosmic radiation, dust storms and their effect on solar panels, effects on mental and physical health) and translating them in life survival kits (agricultural equipment, oxygen harvesting and medical devices). And what high tech solutions can we develop to settle on Mars and possibly return to planet Earth (using Mars materials to design and build solutions)?

ATLAS chooses topics that fit in the honours bachelor programme and that are (in this particular semester) inspired by Mars One. ATLAS students will be challenged by the Mars One team and generate new perspectives and solutions for the mission.