ISS & MARS
Can the International Space Station be used to advance Mars Exploration? Under this theme we organized a comprehensive discussion in a conference in April 2011. We plan to draw more attention on this issue in the coming time.
BTW the answer is 'yes, the ISS can be used to prepare for Mars Exploration'.
Mars Education
The Mars Education Challenge encourages science educators around the United States to use Mars as an example in their science lessons (biology, geology, chemistry, astronomy) to bring home the point they are trying to make. Explore Mars calls on science educators to develop Mars related curriculum support materials that can be easily adopted in accordance with curriculum standards around the country. All appropriate materials will be collected in a free downloadable database. It has been a big success in 2011.
Women & Mars
If you think mars exploration is only a boy's dream then you are wrong. Check out how many women are involved in the exploration of Space and specifically Mars. Mars is definitely also a women's dream.
ISRU Challenge
If humanity is ever going to succeed in the human exploration of the solar system, we will have to learn how to use the resources of the planets we intend to explore. If we don't, all supplies must be brought there from Earth at enormous cost and complexity. Having to ship everything to our destination makes any large scale and long term exploration and/or settlement plans unrealistic. The nearby planet which offers the most intriguing possibilities of utilizing in situ resources (ISRU) is Mars.
