The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Vinton G. “Vint” Cerf, widely recognized as one of the founding fathers of the Internet, will deliver a plenary address at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Cerf’s presentation will focus on an extraordinary technological challenge: developing an Internet that extends beyond Earth to Mars and eventually throughout the solar system. Best known for co-designing the TCP/IP… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
October 8th, 2026
Mars Awaits: Just Two Weeks Until the 2026 Mars Society Convention!
The countdown is on! In just two weeks, the 2026 International Mars Society Convention will bring together some of the world’s leading voices in space exploration for three action-packed days at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, October 22–24. This year’s convention features an outstanding lineup of scientists, astronauts, engineers, entrepreneurs, and space policy experts exploring the latest developments in Mars science, technology, exploration, and human settlement. Among the featured speakers are former NASA astronaut Dr. Garrett… READ MORE >
October 7th, 2026
Award-Winning Sci-Fi Author & Futurist David Brin Joins Red Planet Live
The Mars Society is pleased to welcome acclaimed science fiction author, scientist, and futurist Dr. David Brin as the next guest on Red Planet Live, hosted by Ashton Zeth, on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 PM PT. Brin is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have earned multiple Hugo, Nebula, and other major awards and have been translated into more than 20 languages. His best-known works include the acclaimed Uplift series, Earth, Existence, and The Postman, which was… READ MORE >
October 3rd, 2026
How to Protect Mars Mission Electronics From Solar Radiation [Blog]
By Lou Farrell, Senior Writer, Red Planet Bound Mars mission electronics will require more protection than much of the objects humans have sent into space. While many rovers and satellites have flown into the unknown, long-term traversal of the Red Planet will require innovative solutions to shield against solar radiation on Mars. A handful of tests have informed experts about how to pursue more effective technologies and methods, though every concept is still subject to refinement, especially as this proves… READ MORE >
September 29th, 2026
From MDRS to the ISS: Jessica Watkins to Command NASA’s Crew-13 Mission
The Mars Society is proud to celebrate NASA astronaut Dr. Jessica Watkins, an alumna of our Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) analog program, as she prepares to return to space as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. NASA and SpaceX are targeting 11:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 1, for launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Watkins will be joined by NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and… READ MORE >
September 25th, 2026
Exploring and Settling Space with the Help of Artificial Intelligence [Blog]
Reflections from the Nobel Prize Dialogue Seoul 2026 By Bill Maloney, Guest Writer, Red Planet Bound This past Sunday, I attended the “Nobel Prize Dialogue Seoul 2026” as a representativeof The Mars Society’s Mars Technology Institute (MTI). The theme of the event was “AI’s Impacton the Future of Science.” The event featured many distinguished minds, including those at theforefront of the development of artificial intelligence (AI), which is changing the world as weknow it at an ever-increasing speed. Nobel laureates… READ MORE >
September 24th, 2026
Mars Landing Pioneer Adam Steltzner Named Keynote Speaker for 2026 Int’l Mars Society Convention
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that renowned NASA engineer Dr. Adam Steltzner will deliver the keynote address at the Saturday evening banquet (September 24th at 7:00 pm PST) during the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. One of the most prominent engineering leaders associated with NASA’s exploration of Mars, Dr. Steltzner is an Engineering Fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and has played key… READ MORE >
September 22nd, 2026
Mars Is Calling: Join Us at USC in Just One Month!
We’re just one month away from the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles! Join us for three packed days bringing together leading scientists, engineers, space industry innovators, policymakers, and Mars advocates to explore the latest in Mars science, exploration, technology, geopolitics, and plans for human settlement of the Red Planet. And there’s more good news: Discounted student and senior registration rates are available, and we still have… READ MORE >
