Congratulations to George Whitesides for his hard-fought victory in his race for Congress. George and his wife, Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides, have not only been long time friends of everyone striving for a spacefaring future for humanity, but they have also been leaders in the field themselves. Furthermore, and most importantly, they are fine people, with great minds and great hearts. All Americans have reason to be thankful they will be going to Washington. – Dr. Robert Zubrin, Mars Society President… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
November 9th, 2024
MDRS Director Sergii Iakymov to Discuss Mars Mission Simulations & Human Spaceflight Challenges on RPL
The Mars Society is thrilled to announce that Sergii Iakymov, Director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), will be joining host Ashton Zeth for the next episode of Red Planet Live on Tuesday, November 19th at 5:00 pm PST. With a wealth of experience in aerospace engineering, space research, and Mars analog missions, Sergii will share fascinating insights into the preparation and challenges of human Mars exploration. Sergii’s impressive career includes roles as an Aerospace Engineer, Project Manager, and… READ MORE >
November 7th, 2024
Statement of Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin Concerning the Election of Donald Trump
Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States. The Mars Society is non-partisan and does not endorse any candidate. Many of our members and other space advocates supported Mr. Trump’s election, while many others opposed him. For reasons I have amply explained elsewhere, I have always been a member of the latter group. That said, whatever we think of the various policies that Mr. Trump has put on offer, there is one that I and the vast majority of Mars Society members certainly support: his promise to initiate a… READ MORE >
October 31st, 2024
Pakistani Schoolgirls Embark on Mars Habitat Project, Inspiring Future Innovators
Students from an all-girls school in Daska, Pakistan, recently joined the Mars Society’s educational initiatives under the guidance of Director of Education, Nicole Willett. This family-funded charity school, which serves girls from playgroup to 12th grade in underserved communities, embraced the program to broaden students’ horizons and ignite their imaginations. Two middle school teams have been selected to build miniature Martian habitats. Team 1, led by Miss Momina and Miss Chashman, includes students Hamna, Aqsa, Aysha, Sana, and Seemab. Team… READ MORE >
October 7th, 2024
MDRS Director Sergii Iakymov Completes 45-Day NASA Simulated Mars Mission in Houston
The Mars Society is proud to announce that Sergii Iakymov, Director of the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), has successfully completed a 45-day NASA simulated Mars mission at the HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) facility, located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The mission, which ran from August 9 to September 23, is a vital part of NASA’s efforts to better understand the physical and psychological challenges astronauts may face during long-duration space missions. Sergii was selected alongside three… READ MORE >
October 3rd, 2024
Ars Technica’s Eric Berger to Discuss SpaceX, Reusable Rockets & the Future of Space Exploration on Red Planet Live
The Mars Society is excited to announce that Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of the acclaimed books “Liftoff” and his latest, “Reentry”, will be the next guest on the Red Planet Live podcast, hosted by Ashton Zeth, on Tuesday, Oct. 15th at 5pm PT! Eric will discuss “Reentry” and the development of SpaceX’s reusable rockets, focusing on their role in making space travel more affordable. With extensive expertise in aerospace and space policy, Eric will… READ MORE >
September 26th, 2024
Mars Technology Institute to Hold Mars Against Hunger Prize Competition
The Mars Technology Institute (MTI) announced today that it is launching a global competition to demonstrate radically more efficient methods of food production needed to support the human settlement of the Red Planet. MTI is calling its contest the Mars Against Hunger (MAH) Prize because the technologies it aims to develop could go a long way towards ending the age-old scourge of hunger on Earth. There is no technological challenge in providing food for a Mars exploration expedition. Human explorers… READ MORE >
September 26th, 2024
Upcoming Red Planet Live Podcast: Special Recorded Interviews
While our amazing host Ashton Zeth enjoys a well-deserved vacation in early October, our Red Planet Live podcast will feature a special series of short, recorded interviews with six leading experts who spoke at the 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention in Seattle this past August. The taped show will air beginning on Tuesday, October 1st at 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET. Featured guests include: – Howard Hu, Orion Program Director, NASA – Artemis Program & Returning to… READ MORE >
