THE MARS SOCIETY

Prelude to Mars

The Mars Society

RMMS

How Can I Get Involved?

By Brian Bergstein
ASSOCIATED 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 Underground
Formed 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 scifi.com

30 days to explore
Bring all your gear...
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 potential
Image 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? No nukes?

● < $1 billion/year
Different risk
● Smaller crew? equation?
● Fewer launches?
Strict mission
● Less mass? 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
FMARS
Construction
FMARS Complete!
What do you get
when 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
 Day 2

MDRS Construction
(Kennedy Space Center)
MDRS
Day 6
Day 8
Day 8
Day 30? Interior
Complete!
MDRS
Construction
Complete!

(at Kennedy
Space Center)
MDRS in the News
MDRS - Utah
(Sci-Files Visit)
MDRS
(Sci-Files Visit)
MDRS
(Sci-Files Visit)
RMMS - HQ Conduit:
Trans-Life
Euro-Mars
Construction
Euro-Mars Construction
 Euro-Mars
at Adler Planetarium
(Chicago)
 How Can I
Get Involved?
Join the Mars Society!

Student dues: $25

Attend on-campus

RMMS meetings!