It appears that Mars One will reach only 3/4 of the $400k goal in their Indiegogo campaign, which ends today. The money will go towards funding “Mission Concept Studies by Lockheed Martin and Surrey Satellite Technology LTD (SSTL) for our first unmanned mission in 2018″. However, $300k is still a lot of money to raise via crowdfunding. (Unlike Kickstarter, campaigns at Indiegogo can use whatever amount of money is raised, even when the total is less than the goal.)

[ Update Feb.10.14: Final total = $313,749 ]

Bas Lansdorp, the chief of Mars One, posted the following on the Indiegogo updates page:

Hi everyone,

As you know, our campaign is coming to a close. So far, we have raised an impressive 290,000 dollars. As a community, we’ve actually raised more money during this two-month campaign than we raised from private donations over the past two years. An incredible feat. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Exciting days are ahead.  I am on my way to Lockheed Martin in Denver as I write this to attend a progress meeting for the mission concept study they are currently performing for our 2018 Lander Mission. We’re expecting the results of the study in May of this year and we will share the public summary of the report with everyone who contributed for the Mission Backstage Pass.

My meeting on Monday at Lockheed Martin will be on the work breakdown structure and on landing site selection. The work that Lockheed Martin is doing is the first step in a project that will result in the landing of the first privately funded mission on the surface of Mars in 2019. We are getting closer every day! And you will have helped make that possible. I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your contributions and look forward to the exciting days and years ahead!

Thanks again!

Regards,
Bas