North Yorkshire student through to next round for first civilian mission to Mars

21-year-old Gillian Finnerty from North Yorkshire is one of the 1,058 people who made it through to round two.

16:28 16 January 2014

Gillian Finnerty, a 21-year-old former Easingwold School pupil from North Yorkshire is one of more than 265,000 people from across the globe who applied to Mars One Mission that was initially set up in 2011.  Now it has been revealed that she is through to next round together with another 1,057 people.

Mars One is a mission that is partly funded by reality TV and its goal is to establish permanent human life on the red planet by 2025. For this reason, applicants will be sent on a one-way trip. 

Gillian, who is now getting her Masters degree in physics and astrophysics at the University of Sheffield said: “I hope to achieve something historically significant in my lifetime; being a part of this mission is the most important and significant thing I could ever do with my life.”

She also said that she was worried about the current condition of Earth. “Things need to change quickly and drastically if we want to keep living like this.”

“Hopefully the Mars One habitat and crew will inspire people on Earth to use sustainable energy and grow their own food, which would help reverse anthropogenic climate change.”