Answer · confidence: partial
Do some experts want one-way Mars trips, and is it right?
Research question: Do serious planners propose one-way Mars trips, and what moral arguments are made for and against sending people with no return ride?
The records show that Mars One planned a series of one-way missions, landing four people every 26 months starting in 2025 4, and that more than 200,000 people applied for its one-way trip 1. The one-way approach has frequently been cited as a key enabler of accelerating the first crewed Mars landing 6. The records also show costs: the one-way model combined with adding crew causes operating costs to keep growing 8, and launch costs rise as the colony needs more resupply 9. The facts do not state the moral arguments for or against sending people with no return ride, so the ethical part of the question is not answered. The newest fact is from 2025, about a year before the current date of October 2026 5.
Checked 2026-10-21. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
More than 200,000 people applied for spots on Mars One's one-way Mars trip, with a final tally of 202,586 volunteers.
"Its initial 19-week application window closed on Aug. 31, with a final tally of 202,586 volunteers."One-Way Mars Colony Project Draws 200,000 Volunteers
[2] supported
Mars One had not yet selected a spacecraft or rocket for the long voyage, and it estimated about $6 billion for its first crew and $4 billion for each later mission.
"It has not yet picked a spacecraft or rocket for the long voyage. The project also estimated it will cost about $6 billion to send its first crew to the Red Planet and $4 billion for each of the following missions."One-Way Mars Colony Project Draws 200,000 Volunteers
[3] supported
Mars One raised early money through application fees that ranged from $5 to $75 depending on the applicant's country of origin.
"The group started raising money through its application fees, which ranged from $5 to $75 depending on the applicant's country of origin."One-Way Mars Colony Project Draws 200,000 Volunteers
[4] supported
Mars One plans to land four people on Mars every 26 months through a series of one-way missions, starting in 2025.
"Beginning in 2025, the program plans to land four people on Mars every 26 months via a series of one-way missions, using exclusively existing technology."An independent assessment of the technical feasibility of the Mars One mission plan – Updated analysis (2015)
[5] supported
The SpaceX Mars plan is a round-trip design, using one vehicle to fly from Earth orbit to Mars and back, rather than a one-way trip.
"Unlike previous mission designs, the SpaceX mission utilizes a single space vehicle to go from LEO to Mars and back, eliminating a rendezvous with a second vehicle on the return flight."Preparing for SpaceX Mission to Mars (2025)
[6] supported
The one-way approach has frequently been cited as a key enabler of accelerating the first crewed landing on Mars.
"This one-way approach has frequently been cited as a key enabler of accelerating the first crewed landing on Mars."An independent assessment of the technical feasibility of the Mars One mission plan – Updated analysis (2015)
[7] supported
The SpaceX mission uses one vehicle and the same engines and propellants for every leg of a round trip, including the return to Earth.
"The SpaceX mission to Mars simplifies the mission by utilizing a single vehicle from LEO to the Mars surface and back to Earth, using the same engines and propellants for all legs of the round-trip journey."Preparing for SpaceX Mission to Mars (2025)
[8] documented
The one-way nature of the Mars One mission, combined with adding crew every 26 months, causes program operating costs to keep growing over time.
"Most importantly, we find that the one-way nature of the Mars One mission, coupled with its plans to increase its crew population every 26 months, causes the operating costs of the program to grow continually over time."An independent assessment of the technical feasibility of the Mars One mission plan – Updated analysis (2015)
[9] supported
Because a growing colony needs ever more equipment and spare parts resupplied, launch costs rise over time.
"This is due to the fact that maintaining a growing colony on the Martian surface incurs increasing equipment and spare parts resupply requirements and hence launch costs over time."An independent assessment of the technical feasibility of the Mars One mission plan – Updated analysis (2015)
[10] documented
By the launch of the fifth crew, launching equipment and spares would cost roughly half of NASA's total FY2015 budget.
"our analysis finds that by the launch of the fifth crew, the cost associated with launching a portion of all required equipment and spares is approximately equal to half of the total NASA FY2015 budget"An independent assessment of the technical feasibility of the Mars One mission plan – Updated analysis (2015)