On Thursday, August 3, conference attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Congressional offices on Capitol Hill to voice their views on NASA’s future space exploration plans as part of the 2006 Mars Blitz.

"This will be an unprecedented event for the space advocacy community.  We could literally have Mars Society members on every floor of every Congressional office building at the same time expressing their support for the human exploration of Mars."
- Chris Carberry, Political Director of the Mars Society

2007 FMARS 4-Month Mission – Plan Development and Call for Volunteers to be Announced

In May of 2007, the Mars Society will launch its first extended duration simulated mission at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) on Canada’s Devon Island, 900 miles from the North Pole.  During the next four months, the crew will conduct a sustained program of field exploration in geology, microbiology, and paleontology, just as an actual team of explorers would on the Red Planet, while operating under many Mars mission constraints.

Participation in the crew, the Mission Support Group, the Remote Science Team, and the Engineering Team will be open to volunteers from around the world. A formal call for volunteers, as well as an extensive discussion of the plan for the mission, will be presented at the 9th International Mars Society Conference.

2nd Annual Advanced Spacesuit Symposium

Risk and Exploration Special Track Session

This year's Conference will feature a track on “Risk and Exploration,” a key aspect of Mars exploration, featuring individuals who have successfully managed risk and reward from a number of different disciplines.  Confirmed speakers include Francis Slakey, physicist and mountaineer, who has climbed the Seven Summits -- the highest peaks on each continent, and Colin Bryant, venture capitalist recently featured in the Washington Post, and interested in entreprenurial space companies.  Potential speakers should contact David Schuman at dschuman@verizon.net .

Reception & Special Screening of the Documentary, The Mars Underground

Join us on Thursday evening for a welcome reception, followed directly by a special screening of the documentary, The Mars Underground .  This incredible film depicts the future human exploration of Mars, and the current day space advocates who work so tirelessly to achieve that goal.  For more information and a sneak peak of the trailer, visit www.themarsunderground.com .

Saturday Night Banquet

Friday Night Reception and Tour of DC Nightlife
Hosted by Yuri’s Night, the World Space Party