Are we alone in the universe? Could life exist beneath the Martian surface? And might NASA’s Viking landers have discovered evidence of life on Mars 50 years ago? These fascinating questions will take center stage at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, now just ONE WEEK AWAY! The three-day gathering will bring together leading scientists, astronauts, engineers, entrepreneurs, and space advocates at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, October 22–24. Among the convention’s highlights will be a… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
October 11th, 2026
The Man Who Inspired Elon Musk to Shoot for Mars
By Jacob Mikanowski, The Economist, October 9, 2026 The International Space Development Conference (ISDC) is an annual jamboree for interplanetary entrepreneurs. It draws space-industry professionals, NASA researchers, rocket-launch obsessives, young dreamers and anyone else hoping one day to live in—or at least profit from—settlements beyond Earth. Last year it took place in Orlando, Florida, in a convention centre sandwiched between Sea World and the Universal theme park. Crowds flocked around vendors peddling dehydrated “space salsa” and guided tours of Florida’s… READ MORE >
October 8th, 2026
The Internet Goes Interplanetary: Vint Cerf to Speak at Mars Society Convention
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Vinton G. “Vint” Cerf, widely recognized as one of the founding fathers of the Internet, will deliver a plenary address at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Cerf’s presentation will focus on an extraordinary technological challenge: developing an Internet that extends beyond Earth to Mars and eventually throughout the solar system. Best known for co-designing the TCP/IP… READ MORE >
October 8th, 2026
Mars Awaits: Just Two Weeks Until the 2026 Mars Society Convention!
The countdown is on! In just two weeks, the 2026 International Mars Society Convention will bring together some of the world’s leading voices in space exploration for three action-packed days at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, October 22–24. This year’s convention features an outstanding lineup of scientists, astronauts, engineers, entrepreneurs, and space policy experts exploring the latest developments in Mars science, technology, exploration, and human settlement. Among the featured speakers are former NASA astronaut Dr. Garrett… READ MORE >
October 7th, 2026
Award-Winning Sci-Fi Author & Futurist David Brin Joins Red Planet Live
The Mars Society is pleased to welcome acclaimed science fiction author, scientist, and futurist Dr. David Brin as the next guest on Red Planet Live, hosted by Ashton Zeth, on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 PM PT. Brin is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have earned multiple Hugo, Nebula, and other major awards and have been translated into more than 20 languages. His best-known works include the acclaimed Uplift series, Earth, Existence, and The Postman, which was… READ MORE >
October 3rd, 2026
How to Protect Mars Mission Electronics From Solar Radiation [Blog]
By Lou Farrell, Senior Writer, Red Planet Bound Mars mission electronics will require more protection than much of the objects humans have sent into space. While many rovers and satellites have flown into the unknown, long-term traversal of the Red Planet will require innovative solutions to shield against solar radiation on Mars. A handful of tests have informed experts about how to pursue more effective technologies and methods, though every concept is still subject to refinement, especially as this proves… READ MORE >
September 29th, 2026
From MDRS to the ISS: Jessica Watkins to Command NASA’s Crew-13 Mission
The Mars Society is proud to celebrate NASA astronaut Dr. Jessica Watkins, an alumna of our Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) analog program, as she prepares to return to space as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. NASA and SpaceX are targeting 11:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 1, for launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Watkins will be joined by NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and… READ MORE >
September 25th, 2026
Exploring and Settling Space with the Help of Artificial Intelligence [Blog]
Reflections from the Nobel Prize Dialogue Seoul 2026 By Bill Maloney, Guest Writer, Red Planet Bound This past Sunday, I attended the “Nobel Prize Dialogue Seoul 2026” as a representativeof The Mars Society’s Mars Technology Institute (MTI). The theme of the event was “AI’s Impacton the Future of Science.” The event featured many distinguished minds, including those at theforefront of the development of artificial intelligence (AI), which is changing the world as weknow it at an ever-increasing speed. Nobel laureates… READ MORE >
