One way trip to Mars - who's up for that then? Sounds like a winner. All expenses paid, no council tax or greedy politicians and plenty of wide open space. No Strictly or X Factor, just make your own fun, like they did before the war.
The scientists are serious. "Some people would call it scary but I'd call it thrilling or exciting," says astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch. co-author of a paper into the mission, planned for 2030. Nasa has about £1m towards the cost, reckoned to run to 10 billion dollars, but is looking for private funding.
They'll send on a nuclear reactor, food, solar panels and tools so that the new Martians will feel at home. Water and oxygen are available in the planet's large stores of ice. No worries there then. Shame the cost of getting back is too high. As your mum would say, it's like it or lump it.
"These volunteers will be the next big explorers - the new Magellan and Columbus - and they will have the whole planet to themselves," adds Dirk. They will also be over sixty because they have to live out the rest of their lives there. Oh dear, is this the old folks home from hell? No hoodies or screaming toddlers sure, but will they remember to turn off the gas?
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