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Mars Civilization and Culture Task Force
The MarsDrive Consortium
The main current Mars Society news are listed below. We also have these other news listings:
- Chapters News
(News from Mars Society chapters activities) - Other News (Non Mars Society Mars/Space news)
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Mars Society News
Up one levelSince the Space Debate that took place at the recent Mars Society convention in Boulder on August 14th, there has been an unprecedented amount of discussion about space policy coming from the candidates and their campaigns. While this sudden flurry of space support is indicative of how tight this race has become, it is also a tremendous opportunity for the space community to make sure that humans to Mars will become the official policy of an Obama or McCain administration.
ARCHIMEDES News: Magnetic Field Simulation Test Full Success
Dear Friends of Project ARCHIMEDES, on Friday, August 22, Miriam's Instrument Pod was successfully tested at IABG's Magnetic Field Simulation Facility near Munich, the largest of its kind in the world.
Photo Gallery From 11th Annual International Mars Society Convention Available
Member Ben Huset, who was responsible for filming the presidential space debate at the convention, has now made a gallery of still photos from the convention available on the web.
After receiving the highest number of votes cast by members of the Mars Society and the endorsement of the Steering Committee, Hill's concept to launch a microsatellite that will test artificial gravity generation techniques - which will be of immense value to the crew of a six-month flight to Mars - was named the winner of the MPC Saturday evening at the 11th Annual International Mars Society Convention.
A full streaming video recording of last night's presidential space debate, moderated by space journalist Leonard David and featuring Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham for Senator John McCain's side and former NASA Associate Administrator Lori Garver for Senator Barack Obama's side, is now available on the Mars Society web site.
The Republican and Democratic parties have created systems where you can express an opinion on what should appear on their national platforms. This is a terrific opportunity for the space community to remind both campaigns that destination-driven human space flight is not only vital to the interests of the United States, but that there are a LOT of constituents who support such programs.
The Mars Society is proud to announce the selection of ten finalists in our Mars Project Challenge. The goal of the MPC was to collect ideas from our members for the next Mars Society project; a project that will provide a REAL contribution to future human missions to Mars.
NASA announced recently that the Phoenix lander, launched on a mission to the northern polar region of the Red Planet in August 2007, had detected water ice during the first of many chemical analyses planned during the three month mission. In addition, initial mineralogy experiments have revealed a striking similarity between Martian soil and the soil found in the Antarctic region of Earth. The significance of these findings cannot be overstated. Liquid water and chemical energy are essential for life, and in the presence of these two, as Dr. Wesley Huntress once remarked: "Life may be a cosmic imperative."
The drive to Mars is on! The Mars Society and MarsDrive would like to announce a new era of collaboration between our two organizations as we aim for Mars. Recognizing that all groups and individuals have an important role to play in this most challenging of tasks, we will work together in strategic areas which help streamline efforts towards a human future on Mars. MarsDrive will be assisting in various selected Mars Society projects from time to time and doing its best to ensure a new spirit of co-operation exists and flourishes between Mars and space advocacy groups in general.
National Geographic Germany Covers FMARS; Scientific American Highlights University Rover Challenge
A pair of Mars Society projects received favorable press coverage recently.
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Artemis Westenberg has been named Director, International Relations of The Mars Society.
Prometheus Music has made the entire contents of "To Touch The Stars", the first ever anthology CD of music celebrating human space exploration, available as streaming CD-quality audio on its web site to celebrate the successful touchdown of the Phoenix Mars Lander.
After two days of intense competition and hard work from all involved, Oregon State University captured first place in the 2008 University Rover Challenge tonight at the Mars Desert Research Station. They narrowly beat out the defending champions from the University of Nevada Reno. Following hot on their heels in third place was first-time entrant from the York University of Toronto, Canada.
With day one of the second annual University Rover Challenge complete, a number of surprises have emerged and teams are in close competition for the top prize.
In a townhall speech in Florida on Thursday, June 5 quoted extensively by the AFP, Republican presidential candidate John McCain said he would like to see a manned mission to Mars as part of a "better set of priorities" for NASA.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- The Northern California Chapter of the Mars Society and NASA Ames Research Center have been awarded a grant by Google for the "Spaceward Bound Robotic Vehicle Project for Research and Education". The project will purchase and configure two robotic rovers for use in telepresence testing as part of Spaceward Bound. Spaceward Bound is an educational program organized at NASA Ames Research Center in partnership with The Mars Society, and funded by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) at NASA Headquarters.
Phoenix Landing Produces Major Media Coverage For Mars Society
In the wake of the successful landing of the Phoenix Mars Lander less than 10 days ago, the Mars Society has received a spike in coverage by major media around the world.
More than five dozen college students will descend upon the quiet, desert oasis of Hanksville, Utah this Thursday, June 5, for the Mars Society’s 2008 University Rover Challenge (URC), sponsored by Raytheon. Teams will spend Thursday touring the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) facility, completing last-minute practice runs, and formally weighing-in their rovers. Competition begins on Friday, June 6, with the Construction, and Soil Characterization Tasks, and runs through Saturday, June 7, with the Emergency Navigation, and Geology Tasks.
Members of the Mars Society around the world gathered tonight to cheer on the Phoenix Mars Lander team, with "Mars Parties" in locations as far-flung as Paris and San Diego. The events, designed to simultaneously raise public awareness of this important mission and celebrate the hard work and dedication of the teams who are making it a success, reached their climax when the lander sent back confirmation of its successful descent.
Spaceward Bound Australia Homepage Launched
Following the 8th Australian Mars Exploration Conference (AMEC 2008) being held at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide, S.Aust. from the 4 - 6th of July, the MSA will be conducting Spaceward Bound Australia One (SBA2008).
Contained Smart Folders:
- Expired News — by Jean Lagarde — last modified 2007-06-05 00:50
- Expired news, newsletters, press releases (i.e. of mostly historical value).
8th European Mars Conference - Columbus: Quest for a New World
Presidential Debate Produces Focus On Space Policy - Contact The Candidates Now!
