JOSH Richards knows his days on Earth are numbered.
Selected from more than 200,000 applicants, Mr Richards is currently one of 100 astronaut candidates short-listed for a one-way mission to Mars in 2031 through the Mars One Project.
The project was launched in the Netherlands in 2011 and aims to create the first permanent human settlement on Mars.
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READ NOWBut before he potentially jets off, the self-confessed space cowboy will appear at this year’s Joondalup Festival.
Armed with stories about the challenges of life in space, the Perth local will get festival-goers excited about science, space and life beyond the usual limits.
Should he make the final cut for the Mars One Project, with only 12 to 24 people are expected to make the trip, he said he was most looking forward to red skies and blue sunsets.
“It’s also going to be pretty incredible learning about Mars’ geological history, searching for microbial life, and living in 38 per cent Earth gravity,” he said.
“This mission, and the ones that follow it, will radically redefine how we see ourselves as a species.
“People will remember it for generations – not necessarily as individuals, but that we as a species went to another planet to live and explore.
“It’s not important if I go or not – what’s important is that someone goes. And the best way I could support the permanent colonisation of Mars was to volunteer to be one of the people who went.
“Playing ukulele on another planet is going to be pretty cool too.”
Josh Richards (Space Pirate) Cosmic Nomad will have an adults-only presentation from 8pm to 9pm on Saturday, April 6 and a family-friendly showing from 4pm to 5pm on Sunday, April 7.
Joondalup Festival, this year themed Exploring the Galaxy, will run from April 5 to 7.