THE MARS SOCIETY

Prelude to Mars

The Mars Society

RMMS

How Can I Get Involved?

By Brian BergsteinASSOCIATED PRESS

September 17, 2005

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. All companies set goals, but newly formed 4Frontiers Corp. is eyeing some expansive horizons. The company's mission: to open a small human settlement on Mars within 20 years or so.

Mars UndergroundFormed in 1978 at CU by:

Chris McKay (astro-geophysics student)

Carol Stoker (astro-geophysics student)

Penny Boston (biology student)

Tom Meyer (engineer)

Steve Welch (computer scientist)

... about 20 others, around the campus...

Mars Underground

Initial Focus

Terraforming of Mars

Human-exploration

The Case For Mars conferences

Building momentum......................

... and in steps ....

Mars Direct Summer of 1990

Bob Zubrin, David Baker

Presentation at The Case For Mars

National media attention

Prior NASA interest, as well....

Previous NASA Mission Plans:

90-Day Report (1989)

(Battlestar Galactica)30 years to develop

$450 billion

$15 billion / year

Venus fry-by

30 days to explore

Bring all your gear...

scifi.com

Mars Direct

(1990)

No Venus fry-by

2 years to explore

Use in-situ resources

Nuclear generator

Science mission

NASA Mars

Reference Missions

(1994 - 2004)

No Venus fry-by

2 years to explore

Use in-situ resources

Nuclear generator and

propulsion

Science mission

OTHER PLANS ???

Private missions?

Non-science missions?

Phobos missions?

Vision for Space Exploration (2005)

.... insert your own plan here!!!

NEWS FLASH:

Mars Underground

Evolves into...

The Mars Society

Founding Conference: CU, 1999

The Mars Society

PURPOSE: To further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet.

1) Broad public outreach to instill the vision of

pioneering Mars.

2) Support of ever more aggressive government

funded Mars exploration programs around the world.

3) Conducting Mars exploration on a private basis.

Broad Public Outreach

88 chapters in the United States

46 chapters in other countries, on all

seven continents!

Thousands of members, united by

common goals (mostly)

Aggressive

Government-Funded

Mars Exploration

Mars Direct --> NASA MRM

Mars Scout Program

Political Outreach

Mars Scout Program:

Phoenix

Image Credit: Corby Waste, JPL

Mars Scout Program:

Phoenix (2007)

PI: Peter Smith,

University of Arizona

Arrival: May, 2008

Target: North pole

Goals: Life detection,

history of water,

habitability potentialImage Credit: NASA/UA/LMSS

Political Outreach

Space Exploration Alliance Member

Congressional Hearings

Private Meetings w/Representatives

Political Task Force (C.Carberry)

Credit: Keith Stanley

Private Mars

Exploration

FMARS

MDRS

Trans-Life

FMARS

MDRS

Trans-Life Project

Private

Missions?

●5 year development?

●< $1 billion/year

●Smaller crew?

●Fewer launches?

●Less mass?

No nukes?

Different risk

equation?

Strict mission

requirements!

The Mars Society

Other Projects (too many to list)

Discussion Groups

Public/Political Outreach

A World of Opportunities...

The Rocky Mountain

Mars Society Colorado, New Mexico, Utah

Oldest Mars Society chapter

Mars Underground roots

Many projects…

400 Members, Monthly meetings

RMMS Projects

FMARS Construction

Simulated Space Suits

MDRS Construction

HQ Conduit (Trans-Life)

Euro-Mars Construction

FMARS Construction

FMARSConstruction

FMARS Complete!

What do you getwhen you add...

... a Trash Can Lid, ...

... a Sprinkler Valve Cover, ...

... and a Storage Bin??

ANSWER:

A Simulated Space Suit!!

Simulated Space Suits

Simulated Space Suits

MDRS Construction(Kennedy Space Center)

Day 2

MDRS Day 6

Day 8

Day 8

Day 30? Interior Complete!

MDRSConstruction Complete!

(at KennedySpace Center)

MDRS in the News

MDRS - Utah(Sci-Files Visit)

MDRS(Sci-Files Visit)

MDRS(Sci-Files Visit)

RMMS - HQ Conduit:

Trans-Life

Euro-MarsConstruction

Euro-Mars Construction

Euro-Marsat Adler Planetarium

(Chicago)

How Can I

Get Involved?

Join the Mars Society!

Student dues: $25

Attend on-campus

RMMS meetings!