Dr. Kris Zacny, VP and Director of Exploration Technology at Honeybee Robotics, will be speaking at the 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention (Aug 8-11, 2024) at the University of Washington Seattle. He’ll share insights on robotic space exploration and mining. Honeybee Robotics is renowned for its innovative robotic systems, serving diverse industries such as spacecraft, defense, medical devices, and more. Dr. Zacny’s expertise spans space mining, In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), and planetary geotechnical engineering. With a Ph.D. in… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
Presentations for the 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention are invited. This year’s four-day global forum (August 8-11, 2024 at the University of Washington in Seattle) will deal with all matters associated with the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet, including science, technology, engineering, spaceflight, artificial intelligence, politics, public policy & advocacy, STEM education, economics, etc. Abstracts between 150-300 words can be uploaded on to our Mars Society abstract page. Please note that the deadline for submitting abstracts for consideration is Sunday,… READ MORE >
Next RPL Guest Dr. Jan Špaček to Take Questions about the Search for Extant Life in the Solar System
In our upcoming April episode of 2024, Red Planet Live welcomes the respected astrobiologist, Dr. Jan Špaček. Hosted by the dynamic Ashton Zeth, this episode promises an engaging and insightful conversation about space. Dr. Jan Špaček, a prominent astrobiologist and senior research scientist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, is set to join the Mars Society’s podcast, Red Planet Live, on Tuesday, April 16th (5:00 pm PT). Renowned for his expertise in molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and organic chemistry, Dr. Špaček’s… READ MORE >
Mars Society Welcomes Nissan Advanced Technology Center Silicon Valley (NATC-SV) as 2024 URC Sponsor
The Mars Society is excited to welcome the Nissan Advanced Technology Center – Silicon Valley (NATC-SV) as a sponsor of the 2024 University Rover Challenge. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., NATC-SV is the center of global excellence for Artificial Intelligence and next-generation mobility solutions at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Researchers and scientists at the center study all areas of automotive research, from the use of AI for developing new battery materials to the design of new systems on a chip for the… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is hosting its annual poster design contest, and we want YOU to join in! If you’ve got a knack for creativity, graphic work, and love of Mars and space exploration, this is your chance to shine. The winning design will be used as the primary promotional graphic for our 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention (August 8-11, 2024) at the University of Washington (Seattle). This year’s convention theme, “The Road to Mars,” centers on the tangible progress… READ MORE >
Calling all Mars and space advocates! Mark your calendars for the 2024 International Mars Society Convention, taking place Thursday, August 8th through Sunday, August 11th at the University of Washington campus (The HUB) in Seattle. This annual event, now in its 27th year, remains the premier global gathering focused on Mars exploration, human settlement planning, and cutting-edge space-related topics. The convention will bring together a diverse array of experts including scientists, engineers, aerospace executives, policymakers, journalists, and space enthusiasts to discuss humanity’s… READ MORE >
By Ashton Zeth, Guest Writer, Red Planet Bound, 03.08.24 International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8th, is dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. Beyond celebrating the triumphs of women, IWD also focuses on raising awareness about ongoing struggles and campaigning for gender equality. According to the US Census Bureau, International Women’s Day dates back to March 8, 1857, in New York City, when “female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is excited and honored to welcome back to its Red Planet Live (RPL) podcast Leonard David, a veteran journalist with over 50 years of experience covering space-related news stories for a variety of media sources, including Space.com, The Financial Times, Foreign Policy, Astronomy, Space News, Sky & Telescope and his own blog, Inside Outer Space. Scheduled for a live one-hour broadcast on Tuesday, March 19th at 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET, Leonard will join our… READ MORE >
The Mars Society (TMS) is pleased to announce the launch of The Journal of Space Analog Research, a groundbreaking publication aimed at showcasing the latest advancements in analog research from around the globe. As a leader in analog research for over two decades, TMS recognizes the need for a dedicated platform to highlight the significant contributions and innovations emerging from this field. Scheduled for release in 2024, this quarterly journal will feature invited and peer-reviewed papers covering a wide range… READ MORE >
Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin’s new book “The New World on Mars: What We Can Create on the Red Planet” has now been published! As SpaceX rapidly advances its new “Starship” launch system through its test flight program, it has become apparent that it will soon be possible to voyage to the Red Planet. That possibility opens up a truly grand question: What can we create on Mars? It is this question that Zubrin’s new book attempts to answer…. READ MORE >
Spaceward Bound Utah will host its final two MDRS cohorts in Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 NASA Spaceward Bound (SWB) is a popular and successful program to train K-12 teachers in how to engage their students in activities that will inspire careers in the space sciences by taking educators into the field with scientists who are working on space-related research in a given location. First instituted by scientists and researchers at NASA Ames, today researchers involved in that early project… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is calling all Arctic-aspiring scientists and analog astronauts to apply to be a part of the annual Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station field seasons in the summers of 2024 and 2025. Flashline Station is located on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic 900 miles from the North Pole in one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth. Since the early 2000’s, the facility’s Mars mission simulations have been unmatched in value in terms of helping trained professionals… READ MORE >
Mark your calendars for an inspiring episode of Red Planet Live on Tuesday, February 27th at 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET. We’re honored to host former NASA astronaut Jose M. Hernandez alongside his son, Dr. Julio Hernandez, a researcher at Purdue University and former Mars analog astronaut. Jose worked at NASA Johnson Space Center from 2001 to 2011, where he served as an astronaut, legislative analyst, branch chief, and materials research engineer. He was on the STS-128 shuttle mission, during which he oversaw… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Zubrin, the organization’s president and founder, will be addressing the upcoming Star Trek convention (ST-SF: Trek to San Francisco), scheduled for March 8-10 in the Golden Gate City. Dr. Zubrin will be discussing planning for human Mars exploration, the technologies needed to settle the planet, and his new book, “The New World on Mars: What We Can Create on the Red Planet.” Organized by Creation Entertainment, the annual sci-fi conference… READ MORE >
As we count down the final week of our groundbreaking crowdfunding campaign, the Mars Technology Institute (MTI) extends a last call for you to become a founding member of a historic venture. This is your chance to play a pivotal role in an initiative that will not only push humanity towards the stars, but also drive groundbreaking advancements here on Earth. The Urgency of Now In just seven days, our crowdfunding campaign will close. This is your unique opportunity to… READ MORE >
By James Melton, PhD, Mars Society Chief Ambassador Red Planet Bound Blog OUR STORY In the dark stillness of the night, zero four hundred hours a Zoom link is clicked in Pakistan. Nasir reaches for his notepad for the call. Simultaneously, in Australia, at 0700 hours at dawn, Jonathan is ready for work, but before leaving, he clicks on the Zoom link. In the United Kingdom, at 10:00 PM, Emma and Steve join in. At 4:00 PM in Austin and… READ MORE >
As part of his ongoing speaking tour in the United Kingdom, Dr. Robert Zubrin, President and founder of the Mars Society, will be giving a talk titled “The New World on Mars: What We Can Create on the Red Planet” at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland on Wednesday, January 24th (5:00-6:30 pm). Hosted by the school’s Space Sciences Society, the 90-minute lecture (including Q&A with the audience) is open to the general public. Advanced registration is required. Please use… READ MORE >
Large deposits of subsurface water ice two miles thick have been found near the Martian equator by the European Space Agency – ESA orbiter. This discovery could improve future prospects for human Mars settlement. Water Ice Buried at Mars’ Equator is Over 2 Miles ThickBy Keith Cooper, Space.com, 01.19.24 A European Space Agency (ESA) probe has found enough water to cover Mars in an ocean between 4.9 and 8.9 feet (1.5 and 2.7 meters) deep, buried in the form of dusty ice beneath the planet’s… READ MORE >
Mars Society President and founder Dr. Robert Zubrin is scheduled to visit Europe this month to participate in a series of public talks and panel discussions involving planning for human Mars exploration, the recent establishment of the Mars Society’s Mars Technology Institute (MTI), and the growing challenges facing humanity. The first two public events will occur in France while the next three will take place in England and Scotland. All of the scheduled gatherings are open to the general public, with registration required. As… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Graham Lau, a popular astrobiologist and science communicator, will be returning to our Red Planet Live podcast for another virtual episode on Tuesday, January 16th (5:00 pm PT) to discuss the search for life on Mars and in our solar system and answer your questions about all things related to space. Dr. Lau serves as a Research Investigator at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science and Director of Communications for… READ MORE >
The New York Times published an opinion guest essay – The Beautiful Desolation of Life on Mars – on Earth – about the Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station and one of its recent analog astronaut teams – Crew 286 – in its print version and on its website. Two professional photographers – Andrea Orejarena & Caleb Stein – embedded with Crew 286 for four nights/five days during a two-week mission at the MDRS campus in southern Utah from November… READ MORE >
Be a Maker of History – Your Year-End Gift Can Change the Future! Dear Friend, As we approach the end of another remarkable year in the history of the movement to send human beings to Mars, we at the Mars Society reflect on the strides we’ve made and the journey that lies ahead. This is the year we began the Mars Technology Institute to accelerate our goals dramatically. The MTI will pioneer the technologies for the human settlement of the… READ MORE >
It’s time to consider alternatives to sample return By Robert Zubrin, Space News, 12.07.23 NASA’s robotic Mars exploration program is in crisis. A recent review of the plan of its flagship Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission pegged its cost at $10 billion, a price tag that threatens to preclude funding any other exploration missions to the Red Planet for the next decade and a half. While the decadal plan issued by a National Academy of Science committee identifies the MSR mission as… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Univelt Incorporated has made a grand donation of books to help support the ongoing crowdfunding campaign to launch the Mars Technology Institute. The Univelt Mars Library is a 14-volume set of historic books including: 1. The Founding Convention of the Mars Society – proceedings volumes in three parts, edited by Robert Zubrin 2. Strategies for Mars (invited papers by Carol Stoker), Volume 86, AAS Science and Technology Series 3.. The Case for Mars – proceedings volumes from 1984,… READ MORE >
The Mars Society has launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the Mars Technology Institute (MTI). Settling Mars will require dramatic advances in biotech (to enable food production at scale on very limited land), artificial intelligence (to deal with a severe labor shortage), and advanced energy (to power an energy-intensive society without fossil fuels) as well as many other areas of research. The MTI will develop these technologies and commercialize them for use on Earth. This will benefit our home planet… READ MORE >