Partnership envisions creating a regional aerospace workforce, research, and education platform timed to NASA’s Artemis program and Project Ignition Moon Base initiative. The Mars Society, through its Seattle Chapter, and South Seattle College (SSC) have signed a 10-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing a multi-program partnership to build a Moon and Mars analog research station on the South Seattle College campus in West Seattle and create a regional education and workforce pathway for the next generation of aerospace researchers, technicians and engineers. … READ MORE >
Topic Area: STEM
More than 100 students representing 20 countries came together this summer to participate in the 5th Annual International Mission to Mars Engineering Design Competition, an intensive five-week virtual program supervised by Nicole Willett, M.S., Director of Education for The Mars Society. The program challenged aspiring scientists and engineers to tackle one of humanity’s greatest technological challenges: designing a realistic human mission to Mars. This year’s competition showcased some of the strongest projects in the program’s five-year history, demonstrating not only remarkable technical… READ MORE >
Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station Crew 19 has officially begun its Mars analog mission on Devon Island, entering full simulation after completing critical maintenance activities left by the Advance Team. The five-member international crew—bringing expertise in engineering, psychology, behavioral science, geology, and the humanities—immediately put their diverse skills to work. Their first EVAs included retrieving fuel and water supplies, conducting field observations, and becoming familiar with one of Earth’s closest analogs to the Martian surface. On their second day, the… READ MORE >
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 >
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 >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce the deployment of Crew 19 to the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in Nunavut Territory in Canada for a multi-week mission beginning in early July during the 2026 Arctic field season. Located approximately 900 miles from the North Pole, Flashline is one of the world’s most important Mars analog research facilities, providing a unique environment for testing technologies, conducting scientific investigations, and studying human performance under conditions similar to those… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce the formation of a new Advisory Committee on Safety & Risk Management, aimed at strengthening safe, ethical, and resilient operations across its global network of analog research stations. This committee will serve as an independent advisory body, providing expert guidance to the Mars Society leadership team, including Executive Director James Burk, and Director of Safety Russ Nelson. Its work will support ongoing efforts to enhance safety standards, improve operational practices, and align with… READ MORE >
By Elena Saavedra Buckley, Harper’s Magazine, 04.15.26 To become a Martian colonist, I first had to fill out a Google Form. It asked me about my aviation know-how, medical training, and experience “working in extreme environments.” I sheepishly wrote “N/A” each time, adding a note that highlighted my cooking and social skills. It turned out that this was okay: I was only going to Utah, after all, and the institution running the show was not a multibillion-dollar federal agency but… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is proud to welcome the INCOSE Foundation as an Educational Partner of the University Rover Challenge (URC). The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization affiliated with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and is committed to rewarding skills through scholarships for those engaged in finding solutions to complex technical challenges at all stages of their education or career. Together, the organizations are pleased to announce the establishment of the INCOSE Foundation Excellence in Systems Engineering Award. This… READ MORE >
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 Mars Society is excited to announce the Fifth Annual International Mission to Mars Engineering Design Competition, a dynamic virtual summer program open to high school students ages 13–19 worldwide. The program will run June 8 through July 10, 2026, offering students an immersive opportunity to tackle real-world challenges related to human exploration of the Red Planet. During this five-week competition, students will think and work like aerospace engineers and mission planners by designing a comprehensive human mission to Mars… READ MORE >
The Mars Society would like to extend its sincere thanks to Alpha School, an AI-powered private K–12 school network operating in Texas, Florida, Arizona, California and several other states, for its recent collaboration at our Mars Desert Research Station in southern Utah. As part of a filming project by Limitless Productions at MDRS featuring three Alpha School students, the production company made significant updates to the interior of the habitat to create a more immersive, Mars-like environment. These enhancements included… READ MORE >
By The Aerospace Corporation, January 29, 2026 Space is an unforgiving, hostile environment — defined by vacuum, radiation and extreme temperatures — making human spaceflight an inherently challenging and high-risk endeavor where even small failures can have catastrophic consequences. To confront those realities before launch, researchers conduct astronaut analogs: simulated missions run in extreme Earth environments that mirror the operational and environmental challenges of other worlds. One such mission recently sent Aerospace engineering specialist Trevor Jahn to the [Flashline] Mars… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is proud to welcome Honeybee Robotics as an official sponsor of the 2026 University Rover Challenge (URC)—a partnership that directly connects cutting-edge space robotics with the next generation of planetary engineers. As a long-time leader in developing robotic systems for extreme and mission-critical environments, Honeybee Robotics plays a vital role in advancing the technologies needed for planetary exploration. Their sponsorship of URC supports a global student competition organized by the Mars Society, where university teams design and… READ MORE >
This holiday season, give gifts that truly support space exploration and spark lifelong passion by supporting The Mars Society. One great option is shopping at The Mars Store—the official store of The Mars Society. You’ll find mission patches, space-themed apparel, books, collectibles, model rockets, and unique Mars-inspired artwork. Every purchase directly helps fund hands-on research like the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), student competitions, global outreach, and programs that advance human exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. It’s a… READ MORE >
For just $25/year, you can enroll a child or teen as a Mars Society Student Member, giving them a meaningful connection to the global movement dedicated to advancing human exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. As the world’s largest and most influential Mars advocacy organization, the Mars Society leads educational programs, analog research missions, public outreach, international initiatives, and chapter development that inspire the next generation of explorers. It’s a unique gift that fuels curiosity, builds excitement, and invites… READ MORE >
In the year 2101, humanity has taken its first bold steps toward becoming an interplanetary species—and students in Greece are getting a taste of that future through DES@Mars 2025, the second interactive Mars analog simulation developed by DES School in collaboration with Mars Society Hellas, the official Greek chapter of Mars Society International. Designed for elementary and high school grades, DES@Mars 2025 places young participants in the role of “Martians Pro,” early settlers tasked with building a viable community on… READ MORE >
The Mars Society extends its deepest gratitude to the sponsors of the 28th Annual International Mars Society Convention. Their generous support made it possible to bring together an exceptional community of experts, students, and space enthusiasts from around the world, both in-person and virtually — all united in advancing the cause of Mars exploration and human spaceflight. “Our sponsors make this convention possible each year.” said James Burk, Executive Director of the Mars Society. “Their support helps us connect the… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce the start of the 2025–26 field season at its Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in southern Utah on October 12th, with the arrival of Crew 319 — a four-person team of professionals in science, engineering, astronomy, and health sciences, joined by a documentary photographer from National Geographic. This mission marks the beginning of a new year of analog research and field operations at MDRS and is part of the World’s Biggest Analog (WBA)… READ MORE >
**Update from the Mars Society Convention Team** “Houston, we have a problem.” Unfortunately, the USC A/V team is experiencing technical difficulties with the livestream for the sessions at the 2025 International Mars Society Convention. While we won’t be able to stream the talks live, all sessions are being recorded and will be uploaded to our YouTube channel soon for everyone to watch. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Please stay tuned here and on our website… READ MORE >
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 University Rover Challenge (URC), the world’s premier robotics competition for college students designing and building the next generation of Mars rovers. Teams from around the globe are invited to participate in this exciting challenge, which pushes innovation and teamwork in the field of space robotics and analog mission support. To complete registration, teams must fill out the URC 2026 Registration Form, submit the application fee,… READ MORE >
This October 9–11, 2025, USC will host the 28th Annual International Mars Society Convention, bringing together leading voices in Mars science, space technology, policy, and advocacy from around the globe. We’re now inviting companies, foundations, and individuals to partner with us as sponsors to help make this pivotal gathering a success—and to share in the spotlight. Together with Boeing, Archipelago Space Research, and other sponsors, you’ll be front and center among visionaries in science, engineering, policy, and space advocacy. Sponsoring… READ MORE >
The Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration (HOPE), India’s first full-scale, crewed Mars analog mission, successfully completed its inaugural simulation last month in the high-altitude cold desert of Ladakh. This groundbreaking initiative is being led by Protoplanet in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Mars Society. Situated in the Tso Kar Valley at an elevation of 4,530 meters (14,500 feet), HOPE was purposefully established in one of the harshest environments on Earth. With thin air, freezing temperatures,… READ MORE >
Join us on Tuesday, September 16th at 5:00 pm PT for a special episode of Red Planet Live, hosted by Ashton Zeth, featuring James Burk, Executive Director of the Mars Society. A veteran analog astronaut and crew commander at our Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, a former Microsoft project leader, and co-founder of our growing Mars Technology Institute, James will provide an in-depth update on the Mars Society’s work and initiatives. From the latest Mars Society analog missions in… READ MORE >