By Leo Farrell, Senior Writer, Red Planet Bound Landing a craft on Mars is one of the most scientifically advanced feats of engineering humanity has ever pulled off. A handful of rovers have touched down, and these successes, along with modern efforts like the Artemis II mission, signify the leaps and bounds researchers have made in forging resilient spacecraft. Eventually, a human will set foot on the red planet because of a next-generation machine, thanks to the years of research… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
May 20th, 2026
Stand Up for NASA Science & America’s Space Future
The Mars Society is proud to join a broad coalition of scientific organizations, advocacy groups, industry associations, labor unions, and research institutions in urging Congress to reject the proposed FY 2027 cuts to NASA’s space science programs. Led by The Planetary Society, this joint effort reflects growing concern across the American space community that these proposed reductions would seriously damage U.S. leadership in planetary exploration, scientific discovery, technology development, and STEM education. We invite supporters to read and share the… READ MORE >
May 19th, 2026
Mars Technology Institute Featured in New Red Planet Live Interview
Red Planet Live, the Mars Society’s podcast hosted by Ashton Zeth, has released a new pre-recorded interview special focused on the work and future vision of the Mars Technology Institute (MTI), a research initiative dedicated to advancing technologies essential for long-term human settlement on Mars. The episode features conversations with Quinn Morley, CEO & Co-founder of Unleashed Robotics, Shaun Riddell, CEO of Space DIRT, and Julien Villa-Massone of Dynamik Orbits, exploring breakthrough developments in robotics, artificial intelligence, biosignature research, autonomous… READ MORE >
May 18th, 2026
Curiosity Rover Project Scientist Joins 2026 Mars Society Convention Lineup
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that renowned planetary scientist Dr. Ashwin Vasavada will serve as a plenary speaker at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Dr. Vasavada is a leading expert on Mars exploration and currently serves as Project Scientist for NASA’s Curiosity rover mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Over the course of his distinguished career, he has played a major role… READ MORE >
May 15th, 2026
Dr. Namrata Goswami to Address Space Geopolitics at 2026 Mars Society Convention
Leading space policy expert Dr. Namrata Goswami will serve as a plenary speaker at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. During the convention, Dr. Goswami will deliver a featured presentation titled Mars and the Return of Geopolitics: Strategic Culture and the First Civilization Beyond Earth. Currently serving as Professor of Space Security with the United States Space Force (USSF) Schriever and West Space Scholars Program at… READ MORE >
May 13th, 2026
NASA Chief Mars Engineer Hoppy Price to Speak at 2026 Mars Society Convention
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that veteran NASA engineer Humphrey “Hoppy” Price will serve as a plenary speaker at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, scheduled for October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. A leading figure at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mr. Price currently serves as Chief Engineer for NASA’s Robotic Mars Exploration Program, where he has played a central role in advancing mission architectures and technologies aimed at expanding humanity’s reach deeper… READ MORE >
May 10th, 2026
Robert Zubrin on Why Humanity Must Go to Mars
Appearing on Tim Ventura Interviews, a popular YouTube science and technology program, Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin discusses the future of human Mars exploration, the search for past or present life on the Red Planet, and why establishing a permanent human presence on Mars is essential for the long-term future of civilization. The wide-ranging conversation also explores current NASA strategy, mission architecture concepts, advanced propulsion ideas, and the growing international push toward becoming a multi-planetary species. To watch the… READ MORE >
April 26th, 2026
The Moon Is Just Practice: How Lunar Breakthroughs Will Transform Mars [RPB Blog]
By Lou Farrell, Senior Writer, Red Planet Bound There has been a recently-renewed focus on lunar exploration as of late, best exemplified by the Artemis II mission, which began on April 1, 2026 and lasted nine days. The mission garnered worldwide interest and acclaim. On a surface level, one can understand the appeal of prioritizing lunar exploration, as the Moon provides a controlled environment near Earth for testing technologies and strategies under real space conditions. Thankfully, that same factor also… READ MORE >
