An East Sooke woman hoping to fly to Mars on an international plan to colonize the planet got confirmation she made it through the last cut of applicants.
Mars One hopes to establish a permanent human settlement by 2023.
“I’m now one of 705 remaining candidates,” said Marina Miral in an email. “Now I am just waiting for the email from Mars One that will tell me when and where my personal interview will take place.”
More than 200,000 people applied for the one-way trip to Mars; 353 were eliminated in the last round.
Interviews will help narrow the group of candidates down to several international teams, each consisting of two women and two men, said Mars One in a statement.
The non-profit foundation has said it expects to make its final selection by the end of 2015. Up to 40 people will then spend the next seven years training full time to survive on Mars for the rest of their lives.