By Daniel Mills Comedian Josh Richards wasn't joking around when he said he wanted to spend his 40th birthday  party in space. The Australian, who is now 28, is already planning the occasion with 23 strangers when he hopes to touch down on Mars in 2024. It is a long-shot, he said, but his chances are more than a pipe dream now with the West Australian pushing his claims for a place on the hotly-contested Mars One expedition which will see just 24 people travel to space and never return. Josh Richards is hoping to celebrate his 40th and first birthday on Mars as part of the Dutch-funded 2024 Mars One mission
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Josh Richards and Korum Ellis are shortlisted for the Mars One mission
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Just 24 people will travel to space to start a new life on the Red Planet
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It is a Dutch-funded project aiming to set up a human colony on Mars
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Mr Richards will turn 40 in 2024 - the same year he touches down
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He has left a long term partner in the UK to pursue his dream
The @placeholder, and friend Korum Ellis, are two of 705 people in the running for the mission  that will see space goers undergo a 10-year training regime in order to prepare for the rest of their lives in space.