NASA Begins Crew Search For the Journey to Mars -- Are You Qualified?

NASA's journey to Mars is about to unfold and may happen in the next few decades. But in order to do it, the agency has to scout the best-qualified applicants to become the first humans on Mars.

Last June, NASA released a series of retro-themed posters inviting workers, farmers, engineers and other experts to Mars. The posters were recently re-launched as the journey to Mars in 2030 draws near.

"NASA originally commissioned these posters for an exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex in 2009. As part of our Journey to Mars, these versions are now available to everyone online," a NASA official said in the Mars posters website.

But to give the public an idea, NASA is actually starting to scout for potential Martians and are inviting capable experts in their respective fields for a one-on-one interview. Take astrophysicist Christine Corbett Moran who was invited by NASA for an interview while she was working in Antarctica. The goal of the invite is to fill up the slots for the next astronaut class of 2017.

Moran is currently working and studying the echoes of Big Bang and has been in the Antarctica for 10 months. By the end of the month, Moran will journey to Houston to face NASA officials. Her long professional background includes working with SpaceX and co-creating encrypted communications app. NASA's interest in her showed the astrological requirements to qualify for the next astronaut class. This means only the best of the best will be offered a lot and can potentially become the first human to walk on Mars.

Experts say that for the journey to Mars, the premiere space agency is changing its course in terms of recruitment standards. The more 'science-based' space exploration calls for expertise other than what previous astronauts possessed.

Some say her expertise in working remotely in the cold dangerous areas of the Antarctic made her a good candidate as well. "Most of the things that I like doing happen indoors," Moran said in an interview.

This just means, if NASA really wanted someone, they will search the planet Earth, even the most desolate places like the Antarctica to find qualified potential astronauts.