MarsDrive
Encyclopedia
MarsDrive, founded in 2005, is an international non-profit space organization with a worldwide membership and branches across North America, Europe and Australasia. MarsDrive's goal is to involve the public, directly and actively, in the settlement and exploration of space.
MarsDrive envisions "a spacefaring civilization spreading life outward into the cosmos." Its intent is to enable the rapid expansion of humanity into space and Mars by gathering public support and helping build up funds for the growth of a viable space economy.
To support the public, private, and non-profit space sectors, MarsDrive seeks to translate large-scale public support for space exploration and settlement into targeted funding and provision of scholarships, small grants (for R&D projects) and a space infrastructure development fund (capital grants).
MarsDrive outreach projects include their new Space Access Petition http://www.spacepetition.com/, a presence in Second Lifehttp://secondlife.com/ and MySpacehttp://www.myspace.com/marsdrive, along with an educational website called Kids4Marshttp://www.kids4mars.com/news.php.
Currently, MarsDrive is designing a new manned Mars mission plan led by retired NASA
engineer Ron Cordes. A preliminary baseline profile will be announced later in 2008. Its first Mars mission design was the "Mars for Less
" design reference mission plan, by Grant Bonin. Mars for Less
was peer reviewed in such publications as the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
and The Space Review
. The plan was also presented at the 2006 International Space Development Conference
in Los Angeles.
MarsDrive also produces space and Mars related games, art, comics, and animations that raise interest in the settlement of space and Mars. Members attend and present at various conferences such as ISDC or the annual Mars Society
Conference. Members also engage in public outreach, presenting the benefits and motivations for going to Mars to the general public, companies and the government sector.
MarsDrive's role as a think tank
and support group for many other space advocacy
and space-related groups continues to expand. The organization's Chief Executive, Frank Stratford, is also Director of Operations within the Australasian team. Hal Fulton heads up US operations. Randall Shelaga manages events and activities throughout Canada.
For the farther future, MarsDrive is developing its own Space Access Plan to lower the costs of space transport via the funding and construction of infrastructure projects (both orbital and surface). Key concepts include a space station
, asteroid mining complexes, solar arrays, orbital shipyards and both Lunar and Mars based settlements & research facilities.
Compared to other space advocacy groups, the most significant difference of MarsDrive can be summed up in the words of Frank Stratford, CEO and Founder: "The future of our expansion into space and onto Mars is really up to each of us. If our generation does not make the decision to go, who will?" MarsDrive promotes a message of personal responsibility for a human future in space.
MarsDrive envisions "a spacefaring civilization spreading life outward into the cosmos." Its intent is to enable the rapid expansion of humanity into space and Mars by gathering public support and helping build up funds for the growth of a viable space economy.
To support the public, private, and non-profit space sectors, MarsDrive seeks to translate large-scale public support for space exploration and settlement into targeted funding and provision of scholarships, small grants (for R&D projects) and a space infrastructure development fund (capital grants).
MarsDrive outreach projects include their new Space Access Petition http://www.spacepetition.com/, a presence in Second Lifehttp://secondlife.com/ and MySpacehttp://www.myspace.com/marsdrive, along with an educational website called Kids4Marshttp://www.kids4mars.com/news.php.
Currently, MarsDrive is designing a new manned Mars mission plan led by retired NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
engineer Ron Cordes. A preliminary baseline profile will be announced later in 2008. Its first Mars mission design was the "Mars for Less
Mars for Less
Mars for Less is a proposal for a near-term human Mars expedition that involves the use of existing Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles...
" design reference mission plan, by Grant Bonin. Mars for Less
Mars for Less
Mars for Less is a proposal for a near-term human Mars expedition that involves the use of existing Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles...
was peer reviewed in such publications as the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
The Journal of the British Interplanetary Society is a technical scientific journal, first published in 1934. JBIS is concerned with space science and space technology...
and The Space Review
The Space Review
The Space Review is a free online publication, published weekly with in-depth articles, essays, commentary and reviews on space exploration and development. It was founded in February 2003 by Jeff Foust, the current editor, publisher and regular writer....
. The plan was also presented at the 2006 International Space Development Conference
International Space Development Conference
The International Space Development Conference is the annual conference of the National Space Society . Now in its 30th year, these conferences connect the general public and the NSS membership with leaders of contemporary space efforts...
in Los Angeles.
MarsDrive also produces space and Mars related games, art, comics, and animations that raise interest in the settlement of space and Mars. Members attend and present at various conferences such as ISDC or the annual Mars Society
Mars Society
The Mars Society is an international space advocacy non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. It was founded by Robert Zubrin and others in 1998 and attracted the support of notable science fiction writers and filmmakers, including Kim...
Conference. Members also engage in public outreach, presenting the benefits and motivations for going to Mars to the general public, companies and the government sector.
MarsDrive's role as a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
and support group for many other space advocacy
Space advocacy
Space advocacy can be described as the general position supporting, pleading or arguing for the idea or cause of space exploration and settlements...
and space-related groups continues to expand. The organization's Chief Executive, Frank Stratford, is also Director of Operations within the Australasian team. Hal Fulton heads up US operations. Randall Shelaga manages events and activities throughout Canada.
For the farther future, MarsDrive is developing its own Space Access Plan to lower the costs of space transport via the funding and construction of infrastructure projects (both orbital and surface). Key concepts include a space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
, asteroid mining complexes, solar arrays, orbital shipyards and both Lunar and Mars based settlements & research facilities.
Compared to other space advocacy groups, the most significant difference of MarsDrive can be summed up in the words of Frank Stratford, CEO and Founder: "The future of our expansion into space and onto Mars is really up to each of us. If our generation does not make the decision to go, who will?" MarsDrive promotes a message of personal responsibility for a human future in space.
See also
- Colonization of MarsColonization of MarsThe colonization of Mars by humans is the focus of speculation and serious study because the surface conditions and availability of water on Mars make it arguably the most hospitable planet in the solar system other than Earth...
- Human outpostHuman outpostHuman outposts are artificially-created, controlled human habitats located in environments inhospitable for humans, such as on the ocean floor, in space or on another planet....
- In-situ resource utilizationIn-Situ Resource UtilizationIn space exploration, in-situ resource utilization describes the proposed use of resources found or manufactured on other astronomical objects to further the goals of a space mission....
- List of manned Mars mission plans in the 20th century
- Manned mission to MarsManned mission to MarsA manned mission to Mars has been the subject of science fiction, engineering, and scientific proposals throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century...
- MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
- Mars DirectMars DirectMars Direct is a proposal for a manned mission to Mars. Proponents of the scheme have claimed it to be both cost-effective and that it can be conducted with current technology. It was originally detailed in a research paper by NASA engineers Robert Zubrin and David Baker in 1990, and later expanded...
- Mars landingMars landingA Mars landing is a landing of a spacecraft on the surface of Mars. Of multiple attempted Mars landings by robotic, unmanned spacecraft, six were successful. There have also been studies for a possible manned mission to Mars, including a landing, but none have been attempted.-Mars probe program:In...
- Mars to StayMars to StayMars to Stay missions propose astronauts sent to Mars for the first time should stay there indefinitely, both to reduce cost and to ensure permanent settlement of Mars. Among many notable Mars to Stay advocates, former Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin has been particularly outspoken, suggesting in...
- Terraforming of MarsTerraforming of MarsThe terraforming of Mars is the hypothetical process by which the climate, surface, and known properties of Mars would be deliberately changed with the goal of making it habitable by humans and other terrestrial life, thus providing the possibility of safe and sustainable colonization of large...
- The Case for MarsThe Case For MarsThe Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must is a nonfiction science book by Robert Zubrin, first published in 1996....