The Mars Society has established an organization in structure and strategy that is a blend of the Cousteau Society, The National Space Society, and a scientific/ engineering technical society. Its members are from all walks of life and its membership is loosely organized on geographically dispersed chapters. While much society effort has been placed on lobbying for increased government funding for Mars focused projects and some projects (notably the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station) undertaken with private and sponsor funding, the specific talents of all individual members are not as yet effectively tapped within the current strategy and organizational structure of the Mars Society.

The right and ability to settle Mars is a powerful incentive for establishing a critical mass of talented individuals whose concentrated and coordinated efforts will assure the timely exploration and settlement of Mars. It is perhaps a stronger inducement to a focused settlement of Mars than those currently pursued, e.g. for political or business reasons.

This paper presents an approach to organizing for Mars settlement based on establishing a covenant (a contract) among members who pledge to guarantee the right and ability of members to emigrate to Mars. For purposes of discussion the organization is called “The Builders of the Ark.” Membership is established and maintained by a “tithing of member labor, not money.

The secret to the success of the Builders will be the recruitment and registration of members’ experience and capabilities and the establishment and coordination of Builder’s projects to which members will volunteer their labor. The projects will involve not only the building of the arks to Mars, but also the technical and cultural issues of exploration and establishment of self-sufficient settlements on Mars.

Mars Society Organization and Processes