Bankrupt Mars One mission claims it has found a 'mystery investor' to save it

A startup that pledged to send humans on a potentially fatal one-way trip to Mars seems to have found a last-minute lifeline to save it from bankruptcy.

Mars One announced Tuesday that it's in talks with 'a new investment company' that may be able to rescue it from insolvency. 

The announcement doesn't state who Mars One's mystery investor is, but says the investor will make its plans public at a press conference on March 6th.

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Mars One announced on Tuesday that it's in talks with 'a new investment company' that may be able to rescue it from insolvency. The announcement doesn't say who the mystery investor is

Mars One announced on Tuesday that it's in talks with 'a new investment company' that may be able to rescue it from insolvency. The announcement doesn't say who the mystery investor is

A bankruptcy notice indicates that Mars One Ventures was declared bankrupt by the city of Basel, Switzerland, where it's based out of. The organization has since been dissolved

A bankruptcy notice indicates that Mars One Ventures was declared bankrupt by the city of Basel, Switzerland, where it's based out of. The organization has since been dissolved

WHAT ARE THE RISKS WITH MARS ONE? 

MIT researchers conducted a feasibility study around Mars One's plan to send five humans to the red planet. 

It dealt the team a crushing blow when it found the colonists would begin dying in 68 days. 

Here are some of the risks outlined: 

Food shortages - Based on Mars One’s mission plan, the students say the colonists would ultimately starve on Mars due to a lack of food.  Habitats at risk of explosion - The colony planned to grow their own crops, but this would generate too much oxygen in the air. As a result, it would create a highly flammable environment.    High humidity - Humidity would likely be near 100 percent, which is something that is not fatal, but certainly uncomfortable for the astronauts. A lack of spare parts - Researchers say spare and replacement parts would be needed not long into the mission, but the nine-month or so trip time from Earth to Mars would make them hard to come by. 

The investor has agreed to help Mars One settle its debts with creditors, which currently amount to 1 million euros, or $1.1 million.  

'During the last few months, discussions have been held with a new investment company,' the company said in a statement. 

'The goal of the investor and Mars One is to achieve either a reversal of the administration or a restart based on a financial agreement with the liquidator.

'...The investment company has expressed its intention to reach an agreement with all creditors,' the statement continues. 

It comes after a Swiss court declared Mars One Ventures, the company's for-profit arm, bankrupt on January 15th. 

The organization has since been dissolved, with less than $25,000 in its accounts, according to the filings.   

Going bankrupt doesn't appear to have dissuaded Mars One from its original goal of conducting a manned mission to the red planet. 

In its announcement, the company said it plans to 'redirect its focus' once it becomes solvent. 

Mars One still intends to host its reality TV-style competition to send humans to Mars by seeking 'strategic collaboration with renowned companies and organizations.'

'Mars One itself will focus on the even more inspiring "being there," the adventurous story of humans actually living on Mars, making The Red Planet their new home,' the company said. 

'Utilizing its new investment plan, Mars One Ventures will establish a marketing machine, creating continuous content about these activities, evaluated from all angles, including technological, psychological, economical and ethical aspects.' 

Mars One grabbed headlines in 2012 when it announced it was looking to assemble a crew of four on a one-way mission to the red planet, with a projected launch scheduled for 2025. 

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