Would you travel to Mars?

If you'd ever like to make Mars your home, now is the time to submit your astronaut application to Mars One, the nonprofit foundation that says it's settling humans on Mars in 2023. More than 20,000 people have already signed up.

Astronaut applicants should be driven, curious, resourceful, resilient, healthy, and at least 18 years old. And, of course, they need to be willing to leave Earth behind. Forever.

Could you do that? Is Mars worth it? Why do you want to go? Or, why would you stay on Earth?

Share your thoughts below -- then pose a question to Mars scientist John Grotzinger.

The Public Insight Network and Minnesota Public Radio are exploring Mars -- with your help. We will post our favorite responses on our Mars Tumblr page, and we may put your question to John Grotzinger. We hope you'll join our mission to Mars!

(Artist's drawing of Curiosity approaching Mars, NASA/JPL-Caltech )

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First Name *

Last Name *

City

State or Province

Postal Code *

Country

E-mail *

Phone

Let's say you meet all astronaut qualifications, including the health physical. Knowing that you may never return to Earth, would you choose to join a mission to Mars?

For sure yes! I'd be on that space ship today.
Probably. It wouldn't take much to convince me to go.
Most likely not, but I've got a few years to change my mind.
Are you nuts? No way.
I don't know.

Explain your answer above please. Specifics are helpful.

What question do you have for John Grotzinger, the lead scientist for the Mars rover Curiosity?

If you have an original photo of yourself -- in a spacesuit or not -- please upload it here. (No larger than 10MB, please.)

Please share some details about this photo: names, date, location, and the story behind it.

May we publish your insights and question(s) (and any uploaded files) and attribute them to you with your full name and home town? (Your comments may be edited for length or clarity.) *

Yes.
No.
Contact me first.

What do you do for work?

In what year were you born?

What skills and expertise do you have -- Mars-related or otherwise? (These could be from your job, hobbies, education, relationships, or life experiences.)

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