My parents are still hoping I would drop out of the mission: Shradha Prasad

Shradha Prasad’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing from the time the news of her being shortlisted for the Mars-One mission broke out. This mechanical engineering student from Amrita University, Coimbatore will be the only one from India (Two more Indians have been shotlisted but they do not reside in the country) to be part of the final selection round of the mission that aims to establish a permanent human settlement on the red planet by offering a one-way trip to the chosen ones.““I have been flooded with calls from the time the news broke out. The feeling is yet to sink in. I still can’t believe that I am the only from India to have been shortlisted. I just have one more round to go to be on the final list and that’s making me really nervous,” says the student, who hails from Palakkad, Kerala.
Calling herself a space enthusiast, Shradha avers that she has been dreaming about making this trip to the red planet from the time she heard about Mars-One, a non-profit organization based in the Netherlands and its mission. “When I realised that it was a one-way ticket to Mars and that the assignment was to look at establishing a permanent settlement there, it sounded extra-ordinary. I immediately applied for the same. I have always been fond of doing eccentric things and this idea of living in two planets in one life sounded very appealing. I am still in a state of awe,” says the youngster.
However, Shradha says that selection process was not a cakewalk. “The rounds were gruelling where I was thrown a volley of psychological questions to test my mental strength. I also had to write a motivational letter and a video starring me. Even my sense of humour was tested as that’s very crucial for a mission like this where you have to co-habit with a limited number of people for the rest of your people. There were many candidates in the fray. For the final round too, I am sure I have to push my limits. I just hope that I clear the last hurdle and make it to the mission. The current plan is that a crew of four will be departing every two years.”
Does the fact that she will not be able to come back to the earth sound scary? “It does at times but I am thrilled at the same time. My parents are also happy to hear the news, but they are still hoping that I would drop out of the mission as I am their only daughter.” Now that she has been shortlisted, what is her plans once she reaches the red planet? “I want to do ample justice to the mission by being a thourough help in the scientific experiment. Once I reach there, I want to give my best to make the conditions favourable for human settlement. I am now keeping my fingers crossed for the final round.”