Explore Mars, Inc.
Committed to Human Exploration of Mars by the 2030s
2018 Humans to Mars Summit Strongest Programming, Lineup, and Response to Date!
The 2018 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), Explore Mars, Inc's annual conference, was held in Washington, DC this past week and was a resounding success. With more than 600 people in attendance over the three days of the Summit and many thousands more watching online, the Summit also generated a substantial amount of press coverage and was widely acclaimed by the space community.
H2M featured a remarkable lineup of luminaries. New NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gave the keynote address on the second day of the conference, in which he stated unequivocally that “….we are going to the Moon and Mars in tandem”. In addition, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO-7th), and Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL-8th) also expressed their commitment to human missions to Mars. Other noted speakers included NASA Chief Scientist, Jim Green; Hollywood Producer, Beau Willimon; German Space Agency (DLR) Chair, Pascale Ehrenfreund; internet legend, Vint Cerf; Japanese astronaut, Takuya Onishi; and many more.
H2M 2018 featured a diverse and wide range of topics including updates on human Mars mission architecture concepts as well as how the Moon could be integrated into these plans. There were also discussions on the technologies that must be developed for such missions, on commercial and international participation, about Mars science, and on the power of STEAM education; and also on how to utilize technologies such as virtual and augmented reality as well as artificial intelligence in the future human exploration of deep space.
“I believe this was our most extensive and far-reaching Summit yet,” stated Explore Mars CEO, Chris Carberry. “We were able to reach out to and engage new communities and audiences that will allow H2M to grow to even higher levels in coming years.”
Explore Mars will now build on the momentum gained from this year's conference to assure that next year's 2019 Humans to Mars Summit, which will coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo XI mission that landed humans on the Moon for the very first time, helps to bring us ever closer to seeing humans walking on the surface of Mars in the 2030s.
“There was much discussion at the 2018 Summit about the necessity for international collaboration on a program that will lead to the human exploration of Mars,” said Explore Mars’ President, Artemis Westenberg. “International participation and ownership of such missions will ensure the achievability and sustainability of a human Mars program. “
At the conclusion of the Summit, Explore Mars, Inc. conducted a panel discussion/congressional briefing, entitled, Innovating Toward Mars, in the Russell Senate Office building - and also delivered copies of the 2018 Humans to Mars Report to every office of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The Humans to Mars Report is an annual report by Explore Mars, Inc. that provides a unique snapshot of the progress that has been made in mission architectures, science, domestic and international policy, human factors, and public perception regarding human missions to Mars.
“Now in its fourth year, the annual Humans to Mars Report (H2MR) has become one of the most influential publications in the space community”, said Rick Zucker, Explore Mars' Vice President (Policy). Added Zucker, “H2MR provides a unique snapshot of the progress that has been made in mission architectures, science, domestic and international policy, human factors, and public perception regarding human missions to Mars, and thereby serves as an invaluable resource for both stakeholders and policymakers alike.”
Over the course of the next 2 weeks Explore Mars will work to make the entire H2M 2018 videos available online by Panel, stay tuned!
Administrator Bridenstine and Buzz Aldrin at Humans to Mars Summit
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, left, meets back stage with former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin, prior to giving the keynote speech at the Humans to Mars Summit (H2M), Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at George Washington University in Washington. Bridenstine joined more than 20 NASA scientists and technologists at the three-day event sponsored by Explore Mars Inc. It brought industry, government and the scientific, entertainment and academic communities together to discuss technology developments, foster partnerships, and encourage students to pursue STEAM careers.
