News

The new Mars Society of Australia' s newletter has just been distributed with a bonus CD. The first issue featured eight pages of reports, news items, book reviews, and colour images and was put together by members of the Western Australian Chapter.

This is intended to be a regular publication. If you would like to contribute any articles or advertise upcoming events, then contact editor David Cooper.

Mars Society President Dr Robert Zubrin recently visited Australia on a lecture tour during March of this year.

The itinerary took him to Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, where he lectured to several thousand people and appeared at other smaller events. The tour was organised by members of the Mars Society and National Space Society of Australia, with assistance from individuals from a range of other space-related associations and universities. Dr Zubrin was interviewed by three newspapers, three TV stations, and about twenty radio shows, including 'The Science Show' and 'Ask Dr Karl' on the ABC.

In his talks, Zubrin emphasized that Australia, which produced some of the world's greatest explorers in the past, should not allow itself to be left out of the defining human activity of the 21st century, the exploration of space. He also pointed out that pleas of inadequate resources don't wash. "The Pathfinder Mission cost $175 million," he said. "...

To get to Mars, everyone involved in the Mars Society is pitching in. From simply becoming a financial member, to actually getting involved in a project team, there is room for everyone to help.

The major challenge for our members at the moment is coming up with a concept for an operational analog pressurised rover. This exciting undertaking has been prompted by a competition being run by the Mars Society in the USA.

Read about the Pressurized Rover Competition here. To be involved, join up!

For all your Mars News, check out www.marsnews.com, a new award-winning site that a Mars Society member runs! A compilation of thousands of news stories from hundreds of sources, marsnews.com plans to be there for all Mars News.