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 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 ( ) 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? ● < $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
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
MDRS Construction (Kennedy Space Center) Day 2
MDRS Day 6
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!