Plans are underway to bring the first human being inhabitants to Mars in 2018.
The private one way mission will also bring a robotic lander, and communications satellite to the red planet Fox News reported Tuesday. Lockheed Martin is involved with the creation of the lander while Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. is probing a study for the satellite.
The satellite will allow those involved in the mission to view a live video stream of the undertaking from Earth according to CNN.
"We're very excited to have contracted Lockheed Martin and SSTL for our first mission to Mars," Mars One co-founder and CEO Bas Lansdorp said in a statement. "These will be the first private spacecraft to Mars and their successful arrival and operation will be a historic accomplishment. "Our 2018 mission will change the way people view space exploration as they will have the opportunity to participate. They will not only be spectators, but also participants."
Depending on how things go, the red planet's first official settlers could come by 2025; two years later than originally planned.
Over 200,000 people have shown interest in participating in the endeavor. The Mars One Foundation will inform those selected for the second round of the process before the year is out.
"This study gives us an unprecedented opportunity to take our tried and tested approach and apply it to Mars One's imaginative and exhilarating challenge of sending humans to Mars through private investment," Sir Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of SSTL, said in a statement.
Those involved expect the project to be funded through sponsors and partners rather than public contributions.
"This is an ambitious project and we're already working on the mission concept study, starting with the proven design of Phoenix," Ed Sedivy, civil space chief engineer at Lockheed Martin, said in a statement Fox News reported.
