Irishman Roche keen to explore a new life on Mars

IN 1971, David Bowie sang: ‘Is there life on Mars?’ There might be soon, and Irishman Joseph Roche could be one of 20 people to be sent in 2025 to the Red Planet to live, and die, in a space settlement.

“I applied to go to Mars on a one-way trip,” says the 28-year-old. “The chances of me going are pretty slim, but they improved this week.

“When they announced this project, 202,500 people applied and, last week, they cut it down to 1,058 potentials. There are three Irish people left in the running.”