Josh Richards

Physicist, Explosives Engineer, Soldier, Comedian, Astronaut Candidate – one thing Josh Richards can never be accused of is being boring. He’s picked up booby traps with the Australian Army, slogged through mud with British Commandos, been science adviser to the richest artist in the world, and performed comedy wearing a giant koala suit to confused audiences around the world.

Josh found his true calling in September 2012 when he discovered the Mars One project. Selected from over 200,000 initial applicants, he’s currently one of 100 astronaut candidates short-listed for a one-way mission to colonize Mars. With a potential launch date just 14 years away and a natural talent for explaining complicated science through comedy, Josh is a highly-visible promoter of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) as a National Science Week media ambassador and the author of Becoming Martian.