Exploration has a history of danger. History, from arctic voyages to moon landings to submersibles, is full of fatal accidents. The kinds of men who undertake these voyages do so understanding that they may never come back. They bravely risk life and limb for the sake of science and knowledge. Apollo 1, Challenger, Titan, all prove the risk of danger.

We know that disaster is inevitable. But what doesn’t have to be inevitable is tragedy.

We should start sending suicidal people into space. I understand that NASA has recently discovered biosignatures on Mars that may indicate life. They may have to send an expedition of humans to study this further. This voyage would be dangerous and unlike any ever before. If we pack the mission full of suicidal scientists, then we don’t have to worry as much about the risks.

It will be like a win-win situation. Either they come back as the next generation of Neil Armstrongs, or they get what they want and die. Plus, we don’t have to worry about any exhausting costly rescue attempts, like that bullshit with Apollo 13.

You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, right? So it makes sense to send the eggs that want out of the basket. Let them be omelet. Kamikaze pilots know they’ll die. Suicide bombers know they’ll die. It’s helpful for one to already be suicidal when taking up these roles. Astronauts can benefit from the same attitude.

I’m not saying that their lives are less valuable just because they’re suicidal. I’m saying that they’ll be fine with dying in a rocket launch accident. Let’s face it—the new age of space exploration has to go fast. It’s better for us as a country if we’re able to take a few chances on some untested SpaceX boosters by having a few disposables at our disposal.

If this country wants to get serious about valuing Mental Health, then what better way to validate the experience of depressed people than sending some of them to Mars? It proves that not even suicidal ideation can stop you from being a national hero.

I mean really, wouldn’t a posthumous medal of honor look better on an obituary that “suddenly passed away” and having to lie to the kid cousins at the funeral?

America, lets get those suicidal people on Mars.