Leonard David brings over 50 years of experience covering space—from the earliest robotic planetary probes to the emerging private space economy. Best known as Space.com’s Space Insider Columnist, he has reported for SpaceNews, Scientific American, Aerospace America, and more. He’s the author of key works like Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet (2016), Moon Rush: The New Space Race (2019), and Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration (co‑authored with Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin). Leonard is also the… READ MORE >
News & Announcements
August 3rd, 2025
Mars Society joins Protoplanet towards establishment of Mars analogue training environment in Ladakh
A significant international collaboration is underway in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, India, aimed at establishing a sophisticated Mars analogue research and training environment. This initiative sees the Mars Society and its active chapter, Mars Society Australia, formally joining efforts, with Protoplanet serving as the organization facilitating and coordinating the project alongside other national and international partners. The project will leverage years of expertise gained from helping develop and operate facilities like the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah… READ MORE >
July 13th, 2025
Rebooting Mars: Preparing Flashline Station on Devon Island for the Next Frontier
We just wrapped up an unforgettable week at the Mars Society’s Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in Nunavut Territory, 900 miles from the North Pole—one of the most Mars-like places on Earth. As part of the 2025 Advance One Crew, our mission was to bring the station back online after a long Arctic winter and get it ready for the arrival of Crews 17 and 18, which will be conducting analog simulations at Flashline later this summer…. READ MORE >
July 10th, 2025
Voices from the Void: How Space Communicators Are Inspiring a New Generation
Curious about who’s making space exciting, accessible, and just plain cool for the rest of us? Join us on Tuesday, July 15 at 4:00 PM PT [1-hour earlier than usual] for a special live episode of Red Planet Live, where we’ll be diving into the world of space communication with some of the most dynamic voices in the field. Hosted by Ashton Zeth, this one-hour livestream will feature a stellar panel including Camille “The Galactic Gal” Bergin, Susan Martinez, and… READ MORE >
June 20th, 2025
Training for Mars: Crew 315 Talks Analog Exploration on Red Planet Live
Analog research is a vital part of preparing for the human exploration of Mars—and now you can hear directly from the front lines! Join us for a special episode of Red Planet Live on Tuesday, July 1st at 5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET, featuring four members of Crew 315 from the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in southern Utah. Hosted by Ashton Zeth, this one-hour live podcast will welcome: Crew 315 recently completed a two-week analog mission at… READ MORE >
June 19th, 2025
[Blog] Transportation on Mars: Innovative Possibilities for Planetary Exploration
By Lou Farrell, Senior Blog Writer Transportation to Mars requires more than a spaceship. Science fiction writers, astrophysicists and engineers have speculated for decades about what technologies could be viable for traveling to and surveying other planetary surfaces. Exploratory vehicles have already paved the way, demonstrating what specifications, materials and expenses are needed. What were some pioneering machines, and what could the future hold for planetary exploration? Existing Mars Exploration Devices Any predictions about future transportation tech will be born… READ MORE >
June 18th, 2025
NASA’s Hoppy Price to Speak on Next-Gen Mars Robotic Missions at Mars Society Convention
The Mars Society is honored to announce that Dr. Hoppy Price, Chief Engineer for NASA’s Robotic Mars Exploration Program, will deliver an in-person presentation at the 2025 International Mars Society Convention, scheduled for October 9-11, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. With decades of experience across NASA’s most ambitious planetary missions, Dr. Price brings unparalleled insight into the engineering challenges and possibilities of exploring Mars. The theme of his talk will be “Concepts for Future Robotic Mars… READ MORE >
June 16th, 2025
Charting Mars’ Future: MEPAG Chair Victoria Hamilton to Speak at Mars Society Convention
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Victoria E. Hamilton, Chairperson of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG), will be a featured plenary speaker at the 2025 International Mars Society Convention, to be held this October at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. A distinguished planetary geologist with the Southwest Research Institute, Dr. Hamilton’s expertise spans the mineralogy of planetary surfaces, meteorites, and returned samples—specializing in infrared spectroscopy of Mars, Earth, and even Venus. After earning her degree in… READ MORE >
