Call for Papers

21st Annual International Mars Society Convention

August 23-26, 2018, Pasadena Convention Center

Presentations for the 21st Annual International Mars Society Convention are invited dealing with all matters (science, engineering, politics, economics, public policy, etc.) associated with the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars.

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be sent by June 30, 2018 to: The Mars Society, 11111 West 8th Avenue, Unit A, Lakewood, CO 80215 or via email to: [email protected] (e-mail submissions preferred). Those submitting abstracts for consideration are asked to follow this sample version.

Conference Sessions

1. The Question of Life on Mars

2. Latest Findings from the Mars Probes

3. Plans for the Missions of 2018 & Beyond

4. Concepts for Future Robotic Mars Missions

5. Planning for Human Mars Missions

6. Advanced Space Propulsion

7. Launch Vehicles for Mars Exploration

8. Long Range Mobility on Mars

9. Life Support & Biomedical Factors

10. Human Factors & Crew Composition

11. In-situ Resource Utilization

12. Habitat Construction & Industrial Infrastructure

13. Martian Agriculture

14. The First Martians – A Permanent Mars Base

15. Terraforming – Creating an Ecology for Mars

16. How Martian Technology Can Help Life on Earth

17. Technologies for Reaching for the Stars

18. Analog Studies Relating to Mars Exploration

19. The Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station

20. The Mars Desert Research Station

21. Rovers, Robots, Aircraft & Mobile Agents

22. Entrepreneurial Approaches to Mars Missions

23. Benefits of Space Exploration

24. The Moon: Way Station to Mars?

25. Planetary Protection: Necessity or Fraud?

26. International Cooperation & Agencies

27. Law, Governance & Social Systems for Mars

28. Why Mars?

29. Mission Ethics: Is Safety an Option?

30. Educating the Next Generation of Marsnauts

31. Deep Space Gateway: Breakthrough or Boondoggle?

32. Political Advocacy for Mars Exploration

33. Chapter Tools & Outreach Strategies

34. Proposed Projects for the Mars Society

35. University Rover Challenge

36. Religion, Philosophy & Space Exploration

37. Phobos & Deimos: Mars Moon Landings

38. Achieving Inexpensive Access to Space

The Pasadena Convention Center is conveniently located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area (near NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and SpaceX) and may be reached via the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California.

Online registration for the 2018 Mars Society Convention is now available. Please consider taking advantage of our ‘Early Bird Special’ ticket options.

Full information, including a list of plenary speakers, convention sponsorship opportunities, volunteer needs and other relevant details, will be posted on the organization’s web site in the near future.