Over 70,000 applications submitted for one-way trip to Mars

Though a lifetime trip to a Mars may not be a typical life plan, that hasn't stopped more than 78,000 people from applying to sign up for the chance to be one of the select to see the Red Planet up close, Daily Mail reports.

A Dutch company called Mars One began accepting applications just over two weeks ago for volunteers who want to be trained as astronauts. Departure for the Red Planet is scheduled for 2022, landing seven months later in 2023 - and they will never return.

- With 78,000 applications in two weeks, this is turning out to be the most desired job in history - said Bas Lansdorp, co-founder of Mars One.

- These numbers put us right on track for our goal of half a million applicants - Lansdorp added.

They have been inundated with applications from all over the globe, and now must start sifting through the files in order to figure out who will be among in the group of candidates who proceed to the reality show round of the competition, where they will be whittled down to an even-smaller group of four finalists.

Mars One aims to raise money to help fund the project through a long-running, global, reality TV show, which will select the first 24 candidates and follow their training.

Viewers would vote for who should be on the first team of four to leave Earth in ten years time. By 2033 the colony would reach 20 settlers.