BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhuanet) -- People have long dreamt about visiting different planets. Now a new program is bringing that dream ever closer, with a global recruitment drive.

The Mars One project has been started by Bas Lansdorp, a Dutch entrepreneur. It aims to set up a permanent human settlement on Mars. Shanghai is among one of the stations for astronaut recruitment. It will choose and train two males and two females to land on Mars in 2023.

Volunteers needs to have an extraordinarily adventurous spirit, as this will be a one-way trip. They will be living in furnished space capsules, and growing their own vegetables.

The foundation will provide financial support for family members remaining on earth. The project is expected to cost 6 billion US dollars, with the main revenue coming from television broadcasting rights.

(Source: CNTV.cn)