MarsDrive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MarsDrive is a new consortium of various space advocacy individuals from groups including The Mars Society, The Planetary Society, The Space Frontier Foundation and The Mars Foundation with the primary goal of facilitating a private, manned mission – and eventually colonial missions – to the planet Mars. Its plan to do so involves primarily building large scale numbers of space and Mars advocates through various types of media, promotions and public outreach projects and using multiple layers of organizing, from the combined advocacies themselves to eventually gaining support from companies and governments and developing new ways to create solid support from the general public. They also have other outreach projects which include a presence in Second Life[[1]] and MySpace[[2]] along with an educational website called "Kids4Mars"[[3]].
Their first Mars mission design was the "Mars For Less" design reference mission plan by Grant Bonin and can be viewed at their site and has been peer reviewed in such publications as the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, The Space Review and has been presented at the 2006 International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles. Currently they are designing a new Mars mission which will be announced later in 2007. They are also known for their competitions which include the Mars Sample Return Design Competition judged by Chris McKay of NASA, Robert Zubrin of The Mars Society and Louis Friedman of The Planetary Society. MarsDrive are also involved in producing space and Mars related games, art and animations in their programs to raise interest in the settlement of Mars. They have new branches opening around the world with bases in Melbourne Australia and Austin Texas.You can find them attending and presenting at various conferences such as the annual Mars Society Conference and hard at work with the tasks of presenting the benefits and motivations for going to Mars to the general public, companies and the government sector.
Their staff consists of Australians, Americans, Canadians and members from Europe and Asia also. Their President is Frank Stratford and their American Vice President is Hal Fulton. MarsDrive are also involved in bringing the issues of Mars settlement to various educational institutions. Their role as a think tank and support group for many other space advocates and space related groups is well established and is continuing to expand.
