By Lou Farrell, Senior Writer, Red Planet Bound Mars rovers are among the most meticulously engineered machines ever built. Getting one to the Red Planet is only half the challenge, as the real test is keeping it alive once it’s there. Surviving on Mars demands that every component withstand conditions that would destroy ordinary machinery within hours. This degree of readiness is achieved through a series of demanding tests designed to simulate the harshest environment any machine has ever been… READ MORE >
Topic Area: Mars rovers
After an incredibly competitive System Acceptance Review, 38 teams from 11 countries will compete at the 2026 University Rover Challenge Finals, being held May 27-30, 2026 at the Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah! A record 116 teams from 18 countries (!) began the year competing for a coveted invitation to the URC2026 Finals. Teams submitted both written reports as well as video demonstrations of their rovers, which were scored by URC’s panel of judges. The URC, led… READ MORE >
The 2025 European Mars Conference (EMC2025) concluded this weekend (28-29 November) in Paris, drawing together a vibrant community of researchers, engineers, students, and space advocates committed to advancing humanity’s future on the Red Planet. The event featured a rich and wide-ranging program, including a keynote address by Mars Society President and Founder Dr. Robert Zubrin, along side numerous sessions covering scientific, technical, and societal aspects of Mars exploration. Among the many subjects discussed, several themes stood out. Participants explored the… READ MORE >
After 3 days of incredible competition, the 2024 University Rover Challenge (URC2024) crowned a new champion, AGH Space Systems from AGH University of Krakow in Poland. This was the first championship win by a team from Poland since 2019. Team Mountaineers, the defending champions from West Virginia University (USA). The BYU Mars Rover team from Brigham Young University (USA) finished in third place for the second consecutive year. 102 teams from 15 countries began the year competing in URC2024. In March, the top 38… READ MORE >
Dr. Carol Stoker, a senior scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center and one of the co-founders of the Mars Society, will be giving a virtual talk about the ongoing search for life on Mars on Wednesday, January 12th at 7:00 pm CT during a chapter meeting of Mars Society Chicago. Dr. Stoker has been involved with Ames for 36 years, specializing in a range of Mars exploration science and technology. Most of her recent work has focused on developing… READ MORE >