Thousands of Chinese sign up for one-way ticket to Mars
Chinese look to Mars mission to fulfil dreams - and to escape as ex-policeman's bid garners huge support
Ma Qiang is angry that mainland media have dubbed his Mars dream a hoax.
The 39-year old former policeman from Dujiangyan, Sichuan, signed up for the Mars One project in the Netherlands last month, becoming one of the first volunteers to be screened for a journey of no return scheduled in a decade.
At first, the project received little attention on the mainland, but as the number of Chinese applicants soared to more than 10,000 in less than two weeks, second only to the United States, the government apparently became worried. Starting from Sunday, major state news outlets issued a series of reports alleging the project was a business scam and that its organiser was incapable of and insincere about sending people to Mars.
"We live in a country without dreams," Ma said. "Our people should be allowed to dream for something that seems impossible today but possible with an effort tomorrow, not discouraged and scared."
Our people should be allowed to dream for something that seems impossible today but possible with an effort tomorrow, not discouraged and scared
Ma said he used to live like most people in mainland cities, worried about their jobs, houses or money, but the big earthquake that struck Sichuan in May 2008 totally changed his perceptions about life and death.