Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Monday 21 July 1952, page 1


ASKS 250,000

DOLLARS FOR TRIP

TO MARS IN 1954

DUNCAN (B.C.). Sun.

Strathosphere explorer, Dr. Jean Felix Picard, to-day guar-anteed a trip to Mars by 1954 to anyone willing to pay 250,000

for the ride.

The scientist said that his flight had been set for 1954 be-

cause he believed Mars would be in a most favourable position then for the observations he wanted to make there.

"If there is oxygen on Mars, there must be vegetable life, and where there is vegetable life, there can be animal life, even a race of human beings," he said.

Dr. Picard and his wife, Dr. Jeanette Picard, are working on plans for the projected flight.

He said that he would go to Mars in free balloons which had

been "tested and proven."

An ultra-modern gondola for the balloons is in the "mock-up" stage in a laboratory in Minne-apolis he said.

All that was needed was a sponsor with a minimum of 250, 000 dollars to devote to the ad-vancement of science, Dr. Picard said.