If I got picked, I would leave my family and spend the rest of my life on Mars.

It's a tough decision, of course. My son will be 14 by the time they launch the rocket in 2023, if they actually make it happen. My parents and wife haven't strongly opposed the idea, but only because they think the odds of me being picked are too small to worry about.

Life is too short. I really want to do something meaningful, not just for myself but also for society. It is not easy.