What Does the Mars Society Do?
By: Nicole Willett
The Mars Society is the world’s largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. Founded in 1998 by Dr. Robert Zubrin and others, the Mars Society has grown into a global community of scientists, engineers, educators, students, and space enthusiasts who share a common vision: establishing a permanent human presence on Mars.
Mission and Vision
The Mars Society’s mission is to further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. The organization advocates for a humans-to-Mars program as a key priority for NASA and other space agencies, and works to educate the public about the benefits and feasibility of Mars exploration.
Key Programs and Initiatives
Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS)
One of the Mars Society’s flagship programs is the Mars Desert Research Station, located in the desert of southern Utah. MDRS is a simulated Mars habitat where teams of researchers conduct field studies in conditions analogous to those on Mars. Crews live and work in the habitat for two-week rotations, wearing simulated spacesuits when conducting extravehicular activities, and following protocols similar to those that would be used on actual Mars missions.
Mars Arctic Research Station (FARS)
The Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic serves as another analog facility, located in one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth. The barren, cold landscape and impact crater geology provide an excellent setting for testing exploration strategies and equipment.
International Mars Society Convention
Each year, the Mars Society hosts its International Convention, bringing together scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and advocates from around the world to discuss the latest developments in Mars research, technology, and policy. The convention features presentations from leading researchers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Education Outreach
The Mars Society’s education program, directed by Nicole Willett, works to bring Mars science into K-12 classrooms. Through curriculum development, teacher workshops, student competitions, and online resources, the education program inspires the next generation of Mars explorers and helps students understand the science and engineering challenges of interplanetary exploration.
University Rover Challenge
The University Rover Challenge (URC) is an annual competition held at MDRS that challenges university teams from around the world to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers. Teams compete in a series of tasks that simulate the activities a rover might perform on Mars, from soil sample collection to autonomous navigation.
Why Mars?
The Mars Society advocates for Mars exploration because Mars is the most promising destination for establishing a second home for humanity. Mars has a 24.6-hour day, seasons, an atmosphere (though thin), water ice, and the raw materials needed to support human settlement. Learning to live on Mars will expand humanity’s reach into the solar system and provide a backup for civilization.
The organization operates on the belief that the human exploration of Mars is not a question of if, but when, and that dedicated advocacy and public engagement are essential to making it happen sooner rather than later. Through its programs, publications, and events, the Mars Society continues to be at the forefront of the movement to make humanity a multiplanetary species.