Major Speakers to Discuss Humans-to-Mars in Washington, D.C.
The Mars Society will be convening the 19th Annual International Mars Society Convention at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. September 22-25, just weeks prior to the U.S. presidential and congressional elections.
Leading scientists, government officials, policymakers and space advocates will address the four day conference on the latest updates about Mars exploration, planning for a human mission to the Red Planet and other major space news.
Some of the scheduled speakers include:
+ Jim Green, Director, NASA Planetary Science Division
+ James Watzin, Director, NASA Mars Exploration Program
+ Don McCoy, Project Manager, ESA ExoMars
+ Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), U.S. House Committee on Science, Space & Technology
+ Paul Hertz, Director, NASA Astrophysics Division, Kepler Mission
+ Vera Mulyani, CEO & Founder, Mars City Design
+ Chris Carberry, CEO, Explore Mars
+ S. Pete Worden, Former Director, NASA Ames Research Center (Banquet Keynote Speaker)
In addition, the Mars Society has organized a number of public debates on issues of major importance to the U.S. space program, including whether or not NASA should fund the Asteroid Redirect Mission, the relevance of Planetary Protection oversight with regard to Mars human and robotic exploration and the legal basis for Mars and space settlement and sovereignty.
Full details about the 2016 Mars Society Convention are currently available online, including how to register, the list of confirmed speakers and opportunities for volunteers. The convention’s program itinerary will be posted on the Mars Society web site in the coming days.