The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Crew 19 has officially arrived at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in Nunavut Territory approximately 900 miles from the North Pole, and is now beginning its highly anticipated analog mission. Advance Team members Rhett Woods, Raleigh Swick, Dr. Laura Thomas, and Terry Trevino traveled to the station together to prepare for the expedition. On July 13th, Rhett, Raleigh, and Terry completed a successful “crew hot-swap” and returned home,… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
Did Life Begin on Mars? – Book Review by Dr. Robert Zubrin
Could life have begun on Mars? In this thought-provoking review, Dr. Robert Zubrin examines Dr. Steven Benner’s new book and its exploration of one of planetary science’s biggest questions. Meet Dr. Benner in person at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, where he’ll deliver a plenary address, sign copies of his books, and join a special panel discussion on this fascinating topic. By Dr. Robert Zubrin, National Review, 07.11.26 Steve Benner is one of the heavyweights of both theoretical and applied… READ MORE >
Relativity Space Co-Founder Tim Ellis to Join 2026 Mars Society Convention
Technology entrepreneur and commercial spaceflight pioneer Tim Ellis, Co-Founder and Board Member of Relativity Space, will participate in a special fireside chat at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. As the founding CEO of Relativity Space, Ellis spent nearly a decade building the company into one of the world’s most innovative aerospace firms, growing it to more than 1,500 employees, raising over $2 billion in funding,… READ MORE >
Property Rights & the Future of Mars: Dr. Rainer Zitelmann to Deliver Plenary Address at 2026 Convention
The Mars Society welcomes internationally acclaimed historian, sociologist, author and entrepreneur Dr. Rainer Zitelmann as a plenary speaker at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, to be held at the USC campus in Los Angeles October 22-24. Dr. Zitelmann will present “Private Property in Space: The Missing Ingredient,” exploring how private property rights and free-market incentives could play a key role in the long-term settlement of Mars. His presentation will examine why secure property rights may be as essential as… READ MORE >
SETI Institute’s Dr. Nathalie Cabrol to Discuss the Search for Life Beyond Earth at 2026 Mars Society Convention
One of the world’s foremost astrobiologists and planetary scientists, Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, will join an outstanding lineup of speakers at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22–24 at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. Dr. Cabrol serves as Director of the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe at the SETI Institute, where she leads pioneering research in astrobiology and helps shape exploration strategies for Mars, Titan, and the icy… READ MORE >
Ireland’s Guru Sharma Named Winner of the 2026 Mars Society Poster Contest
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Guru Sharma has been selected as the First Place winner of the 2026 Mars Society Poster Contest! A cybersecurity analyst by profession in Ireland, Guru has nurtured a lifelong passion for astronomy and space exploration. That enthusiasm shines through in his outstanding winning poster, which impressed our judges with its creativity, artistic quality, and compelling vision of humanity’s future on Mars. The annual Mars Society Poster Contest celebrates artists and designers who… READ MORE >
Flashline Analog Preparations Underway on Devon Island Ahead of Crew 19 Mission
The Mars Society is pleased to report that the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station Advance Team, consisting of Terry Trevino, Rhett Woods, Raleigh Swick, and Dr. Laura Thomas, has arrived safely on Devon Island in Nunavut Territory, marking the official start of the 2026 Canadian Arctic field season. Over the coming days, the team will prepare the station for the upcoming arrival of Crew 19 by carrying out critical maintenance and infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to the habitat’s heating, electrical,… READ MORE >
How AI Could Shape Humanity’s Future: Join Dex Hunter-Torricke on Red Planet Live
Join us for a special early edition of Red Planet Live on Tuesday, July 21, at 3:00 PM PDT—two hours earlier than our usual start time. Hosted by Ashton Zeth, this episode features Dex Hunter-Torricke, one of the world’s leading experts on artificial intelligence and the technology industry. As Founder and President of The Center for Tomorrow, a global nonprofit focused on preparing society for the transformative impact of AI, Dex brings nearly two decades of experience at the highest… READ MORE >













