Mission
The Mars Society is the world’s largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. Established by Dr. Robert Zubrin and others in 1998, the group works to educate the public, the media and the government on the benefits of exploring Mars and creating a permanent human presence on the Red Planet. Our Founding Declaration describes our goals and our creed.
In order to accomplish our mission, the organization actively seeks to:
1. Organize public outreach with the aim of fostering a deep interest in Mars,
2. Promote broad international support for government-funded Mars research and exploration, and
3. Advocate the establishment of commercial space ventures that will help achieve Mars exploration and settlement.
Vision
We seek the permanent human settlement of Mars within the next decade. By utilizing the Mars Direct plan (or a similar one), a human mission could be accomplished cost effectively by taking a “living-off-the-land” approach. A large cargo mission could be sent prior to the first human crew, to establish a propellant factory to create fuel from the existing surface water ice and atmospheric resources of Mars. This approach is one that has been adopted by NASA and SpaceX as the primary method for beginning the human exploration and settlement of the red planet.
Programs & Initiatives
Society activities include Mars analog simulations Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert and Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station the Canadian Arctic, public outreach and educational programs such as the MarsVR virtual reality simulations, Marspedia online encyclopedia, the annual University Rover Challenge, political advocacy efforts, privately-funded research, chapter meetings and activities in the U.S. and around the world, and the annual International Mars Society Convention.
Important Information
Annual Conventions (YouTube Recordings)
MarsPapers.org Research Archive