Mars Society
Overview
The Mars Society is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. Established by Dr. Robert Zubrin and others in 1998, the organization works on several fronts to advocate for Mars exploration and demonstrate its feasibility with tangible projects.
History
The Mars Society was officially established during the Founding Convention in August 1998, following a series of workshops and conferences held by Mars exploration advocates. The convention, attended by over 700 individuals, resulted in the formal creation of the Mars Society. Dr. Robert Zubrin, a prominent advocate for Mars exploration, was elected as the president of the organization.
Mission and Goals
The Mars Society's mission is to further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. This is achieved through several key objectives:
- Public outreach to instill the vision of pioneering Mars.
- Support of ever more aggressive government-funded Mars exploration programs around the world.
- Conducting Mars exploration missions on Earth, particularly at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), to learn how to explore the Red Planet.
Projects
The Mars Society has initiated a number of projects to demonstrate the feasibility of Mars exploration and settlement. These include:
- Mars Analog Research Stations (MARS): The Society operates two Mars Analog Research Stations, the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah and the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) in the Canadian Arctic. These stations simulate Mars-like conditions to help develop knowledge needed to prepare for human Mars exploration.
- The Mars Direct Plan: Proposed by Dr. Zubrin, the Mars Direct plan is a proposal for a cost-effective, direct path to Mars exploration and settlement. The plan has been widely recognized and has influenced NASA's Mars exploration strategy.
- University Rover Challenge (URC): The URC is an annual competition that challenges university students to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers.
Advocacy
The Mars Society is actively involved in political advocacy to promote Mars exploration. It encourages its members and the general public to lobby their government representatives to commit funding to Mars exploration. The Society also organizes public events, lectures, and conferences to raise awareness and generate support for Mars exploration.
Criticisms and Controversies
Like any organization, the Mars Society has faced its share of criticisms and controversies. Some critics argue that the focus on Mars detracts from other important space exploration objectives. Others question the feasibility of the Mars Direct plan and the organization's ability to achieve its ambitious goals.