Highlights from the 2025 International Mars Society Convention

Posted on by onespaceman2000
Image (Credit): Sci-fi panel discussion at the International Mars Society Convention. (Mars Society)

If you were unable to attend the 2025 International Mars Society Convention earlier this month in California, you can still get a taste of the event. The Mars Society has posted a one-hour video with highlights from the various presentations listed below:

  • Dr. Robert Zubrin, Mars Society Founder & President – An abbreviated version of his stirring Day 1 keynote talk, setting the tone for humanity’s journey to Mars.
  • Conference Introduction – An overview of the weekend’s groundbreaking discussions, from science and technology to policy and advocacy.
  • Hoppy Price (NASA JPL) – Concepts for Future Robotic Mars Exploration Missions, including an engaging Q&A on Mars Sample Return and next-generation rover systems.
  • David Malott, Founder & CEO, SpaceFactory.AI – Inside the award-winning Mars habitat design and its real-world implications for sustainable living beyond Earth.
  • Dr. Erika DeBenedictis, Pioneer Labs – A Path to Green Mars, exploring how synthetic biology and systems thinking can transform the Red Planet into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.
  • Dr. Vicky Hamilton, MEPAG Chair – The Future of Mars Exploration, connecting today’s missions to tomorrow’s scientific frontiers.
  • Dr. Abigail Fraeman, Deputy Project Scientist, NASA’s Curiosity Rover – Mars Through the Eyes of Curiosity: 13 Years of Adventure, reflecting on discoveries from Gale Crater and what’s next.

It certainly isn’t the same as being there, but it gives you some background on what was discussed. You can also view the program guide for the convention at this link.

And should you want to hear more, try this video from another conference that Dr. Robert Zubrin recently attended -the 2025 New Worlds Conference in Austin. Dr. Zubrin spoke about the drive to explore and settle space.

Upcoming Conference: Space Settlement Summit

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If you are interested in seeing humanity spread into space, you might want to attend the upcoming Space Settlement Summit hosted by the National Space Society (NSS) and scheduled for November 3 and 4 in Orlando, Florida.

The federal government may be backing out of conferences, and science in general, but that need not stop you from learning more. Do you want to know more about the difficulties of settling on Mars, the role of robotics and AI in space travel, or some of the approaches being pursued by the big space industry players?

Some of the sessions already posted on the schedule for the first day are shown below:

You should also check out the range of presenters from industry, academia, and the non-profit center. It will take superior hardware, software, and brain power to eventually settle on Mars and elsewhere. You can be part of the discussion now.

The Early Bird prices end this coming Friday, so you need to make up your mind soon.

Credit: NSS

Upcoming International Space Development Conference

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You may not like the idea of spending any part of the summer in hot and humid Florida, but the National Space Society has a good reason for you to go anyway. It is holding its 43rd annual International Space Development Conference from June 19 to 22 in Orlando, Florida.

Some of the guests during the week include Jared Isaacman, the future Administrator of NASA, as well as space experts and numerous current, former, and retired astronauts.

The various sessions, panels, and workshops will cover topics such as:

  • Moon and Mars exploration and settlement,
  • Deep space exploration,
  • Innovative technology,
  • Science fiction’s influence on the technology and commercialization of space,
  • Planetary defense,
  • Living in space,
  • Space solar power,
  • Space debris, and
  • Space law and policy.

For instance, on Thursday you can attend four related lectures in a session titled “Interplanetary Infrastructure“. Here is what the session will cover:

Infrastructure is the backbone of civilization. A multi-planetary civilization needs interplanetary infrastructure to support its expansion, facilitate trade, and keep its citizens and their societies connected. The Interplanetary Infrastructure session considers whether investments in infrastructure, especially two-way transportation infrastructure, can address some of the most pressing problems associated with humanity’s initial efforts to expand into the solar system. Historically, infrastructure has facilitated human expansion. It increased accessibility and reduced the personal sacrifices that adventurous settlers and their families had to make. Infrastructure projects tend to be somewhat conservative in nature. They generally use technologies and materials that have been applied in other industries and that are already well-understood and well-characterized by engineers. Successful infrastructure projects are economically viable because their long-term benefit to society exceeds their upfront cost, even when the upfront cost is significant. The speakers presenting concepts in this session adhere to these fundamental principles and can demonstrate that their proposals do indeed pencil out.

Take a look at the program and decide for yourself if you can handle the heat while learning more about future space adventures.

2025 International Mars Society Convention

Posted on by onespaceman2000

It is time to mark your calendar for the Mars Society’s 2025 International Mars Society Convention scheduled for October 9–11 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The theme this year is “Mars: The Time Has Come!”

If you want to learn more about past conventions to see if this is something for you, check out this link.

Some of the guests at last year’s convention included:

  • Tiffany M. Morgan, Deputy Director of the Mars Exploration Program in NASA’s Science Directorate, who will give an address about “Exploring Mars Together, DRAFT Plan for a Sustainable Future for Science at Mars.”
  • Howard Hu, the Orion Program Director at NASA, who will give an address about “NASA’s Artemis plans for returning to the Moon and beyond,”
  • Brig. General (Ret.) Dr. S. Pete Worden, Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, who will give an address about “Life in the Universe and Private Sector Space Science Initiatives.”
  • Dr. Alan Stern, a renowned planetary scientist and commercial astronaut, who will give an address about “The Other Red Planet” focusing on Pluto.

If you are interested, you can register for this year’s convention here.

Also, if you have any ideas for the design of this promotional poster for the 2025 convention visit this site for more information.

27th Annual International Mars Society Convention

Posted on by onespaceman2000

You still have time to sign up for the Mars Society’s 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention, happening from August 8-11 in Seattle, WA.

Some of the guests include:

  • Tiffany M. Morgan, Deputy Director of the Mars Exploration Program in NASA’s Science Directorate, who will give an address about “Exploring Mars Together, DRAFT Plan for a Sustainable Future for Science at Mars.”
  • Howard Hu, the Orion Program Director at NASA, who will give an address about “NASA’s Artemis plans for returning to the Moon and beyond,”
  • Brig. General (Ret.) Dr. S. Pete Worden, Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, who will give an address about “Life in the Universe and Private Sector Space Science Initiatives.”
  • Dr. Alan Stern, a renowned planetary scientist and commercial astronaut, who will give an address about “The Other Red Planet” focusing on Pluto.

These are just a few of the names and presenters this year. You can also watch the presentations from prior conventions if you want to see what you missed.