Ten Finalists Selected in the Mars Project Challenge

Ten Finalists Selected in the Mars Project Challenge

The Mars Society is proud to announce the selection of ten finalists in our Mars Project Challenge. The goal of the MPC was to collect ideas from our members for the next Mars Society project; a project that will provide a REAL contribution to future human missions to Mars.

"First of all, I want to thank all those who submitted proposals," said Mars Society Executive Director Chris Carberry. "All the submissions represented a lot of work and commitment to the Mars exploration cause. I am impressed by the range of concepts that these finalists represent and I am sure that all of these final ten entries could be wonderful projects for The Mars Society to undertake in the upcoming years."

All those participating were required to submit their concept on a quad chart and a one page summary and needed to address a key aspect of humans to Mars exploration and have the potential to stimulate public and media interest. All ten teams or individuals will be invited to make a 15 minute presentation at The Mars Society Convention in Boulder to make the argument of why their concept should be the next big project.

The finalists are as follows:

Autonomous Planetary Agriculture System (Submitted by Robert Van Dyk)
Mars Navigation Aid Demonstrator (Submitted by Guy de Carufel)
Mars Open Source Operations Commander (Submitted by Jason Held and Saber Astronautics)
Mars Sample Return Prototypes Competition (Submitted by Kent Nebergall)
Martian Flying Saucer - Wiki Design (Submitted by Sherry Draisey)
Martian Meteorite Simulation (Submitted by Steve McDaniel, Gary Fisher, Gus Frederick, Penny Boston)
Project Mars Power: ISPP on Mars (Submitted by Mark K. Moran, B.S.A.E., M.S.P.H.)
Tethered Experiment for Mars (TEMPO^3) (Submitted by Tom Hill)
The Mars Foundation: "The Mars Education Center" (Submitted by The Mars Foundation Design Team, with special thanks to: Bruce Mackenzie, Bart Leahy, Georgi Petrov, Shaun Moss, and Susan Martin
Tumbler (Submitted by Jason Held and Saber Astronautics)


VOTE NOW FOR A PROJECT
From now until The Mars Society Convention, paid Mars Society members will be able to vote for the projects that they think would best advance the cause of Mars exploration. While this will not be a binding vote, the Mars Society Steering Committee will take this vote into account when they select the next project. The winning project will be announced at the Mars Society banquet on August 16, 2008 in Boulder.

When voting, members can select their first, second, and third choices, in order of preference; points will be apportioned based on that ranking (i.e. a project receiving a first-choice vote will earn more points than one receiving a third-choice vote). Anyone having difficulty voting should first check that their account is paid up-to-date, and if not, renew their membership before voting. If your account is current and you are still experiencing difficulty, please contact the Webmaster for help.

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11th Annual International Convention Preliminary Schedule

The Mars Society is pleased to release a preliminary schedule for this year's convention to be held on the campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder, August 14-17, 2008. This year's four-day event includes a diverse panel of speakers who will cover a range of subjects including up-to-the minute reports from the Phoenix and Cassini-Huygens science teams, as well as two special tracks that invite debate and discussion on the topics "Science and Religion" with noted scholars Brother Guy Consolmagno and Ted Peters, and "U.S. Space Policy" with representatives from the campaigns of Senators Barack Obama and John McCain.

The schedule is available online at the 2008 Convention site. We look forward to seeing you in August. Please register online!
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Dr. Michael Simpson - President, International Space University

The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Simpson, President of the International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France, will be one of several keynote speakers during the Plenary Sessions at the Mars Society Convention this August. The International Space University is a world leader in space education, and as such sets the standard for excellence with its international, interdisciplinary, and intercultural academic programs. ISU's alumni represent 95 countries, and rank among the world's most respected space science advocates and scientists. The ISU is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Dr. Simpson has likewise pursued a standard of excellence with his own academic preparation. He holds a Bachelors Degree magna cum laude from Fordham University, a Ph.D. from Tufts University-The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a MBA from Syracuse University; and two Master of Arts degrees from The Fletcher School. He has also completed the French Advanced Defense Institute (Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale) and the General Course of the London School of Economics, both programs as prestigious as they are rigorous. He retired from U.S. Naval Reserve in 1993. Dr. Simpson has served as president of both Utica College and the American University of Paris, and has taught courses in political science, international relations, business management, leadership and economics in both the United States and France.

While serving as President of the ISU, Dr. Simpson works to establish an international network of institutional partners, including the University of Stuttgart in Germany and University Louis Pasteur in France, and has recently negotiated agreements with the countries of India and Canada. His work is instrumental not only toward the mission of the ISU, but to advance and promote the cause for international cooperation in the exploration of space, all with the hope that in doing so, we will find solutions to Earth's global challenges.

Please join us in August in Boulder to hear Dr. Simpson and our many other celebrated guests.

REGISTER NOW FOR A SPECTACULAR CONVENTION!
WHERE: Back to where it all began in 1998: University Memorial Center, University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
WHEN: August 14-17, 2008
REGISTRATION: Available online
HOTEL INFORMATION: Available online
SPEAKERS: We have an impressive list of knowledgeable, inspiring speakers already scheduled:
J. Michael Straczynski (Creator of Babylon 5) - Tentative
Dr. S. Pete Worden (Brig. Gen., USAF, ret.; NASA Ames Research Center Director)
Elon Musk (Founder and CEO of SpaceX)
Dr. Jim Garvin (Chief Scientist, NASA Goddard)
Dr. Carolyn Porco (Cassini Imaging Team Leader)
Dr. Chris McKay (NASA Ames Research Center)
Dr. Carol Stoker (NASA Ames Research Center)
Dr. Bill Clancey (NASA Ames Research Center)
Dr. Matt Mountain (Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute)
Dr. Michael Simpson (International Space University)
Geoffrey Yoder (NASA - Director, Directorate Integration Office - Exploration Systems Mission Directorate)
Joe Cassady (Aerojet: Director for Business Development in Emerging Space markets)
George Whitesides (Executive Director, National Space Society)
Dr. Robert Zubrin (President and Founder, The Mars Society)
Dr. Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11) Tentative
Brother Guy Consolmagno (Vatican Observatory; Curator, Vatican Meteorite Collection)
Dr. Ted Peters (Co-Editor: Theology and Science; The CTNS Journal of Science and Religion)
Dr. David Spires (Senior Instructor, University of Washington)
Dr. Michael Simpson (President, International Space University)