24th Annual International Mars Society Convention Highlights Success on Current Missions, Future Plans; How To Watch

For many decades, humans have sent robotic missions on Mars to explore the Red Planet for the possibility of someday creating colonies and living there. To keep the public up to date with the missions, The Mars Society has held an annual convention discussing the missions and their plans.

Last year, the event was held virtually from October 15 to 18 that discussed the missions that the US, UAE, and China will send to the Red Planet. This year, it is still held virtually and will discuss the updates on these missions and other plans.

Taking Flight: The 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention

This year's Mars Society Convention has a theme of "Taking Flight" inspired by the successful Mars missions this year, particularly the extraordinary feat that Ingenuity helicopter has accomplished. This is also highlighted in Oliver Gourdon's design as he won the poster contest for the 2021 convention.

The 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention will be convened from October 14-17, 2021, according to The Mars Society. Anyone from around the world could join as it will be held virtually. The convention presents a unique opportunity to people who are interested in Mars to discuss together the science, technology, philosophy, social implications, and the Mars missions.

Last year, about 10,000 people attended the convention and more than 150 papers were presented. But aside from paper presentations, there are also panel discussions, debates, and participants are allowed to ask questions and interact with one another.

The four-day event is expected to bring together scientists, policymakers, commercial space executives, science journalists, and space advocates to discuss the latest developments in science and technology and changes in human and robotic explorations, as well as the possible human settlement on Mars.

To get a ticket to the convention, register here and check out this page for the full program schedule. An optional donation is also accepted.

Highlights of the 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention

According to Space.com, here are some highlights of this year's Mars Society Convention:

• A special address on "NASA's Path to Mars" by NASA deputy administrator Pamela Melroy
• Discussion on future aerial exploration on Mars by NASA chief scientist Jim Green
• Live broadcast with staff members of a Martian analog called AMADEE-20 from Israel and Austria
• Update on NASA's Perseverance rover mission
• Update on UAE's Hope mission
• Presentation on China's space program
• Forer NASA astronaut and Tierra Luna Engineering CEO José M. Hernández' talk on human space exploration
• An address on terraforming Mars
• A talk on possible biosignatures in Venus' atmosphere
• Discussion about NASA's Titan Dragonfly mission

All presentations during the annual convention will take place via Zoom. But attendees and presenters could interact and network over other platforms, such as the mobile app event platform Attendify. Meanwhile, they can also chat through Slack, and use AltspaceVR by Microsoft for virtual networking and social virtual reality platform.

Check out more news and information on Mars in Science Times.