Explore Mars

04/13/2026

Early Registration Ends at 11:59 pm EDT on April 15, 2026, for the Humans to the Moon and Mars Summit! Don't miss out on this special rate.

https://exploremars.org/2026-summit/

04/11/2026

Welcome Home, Artemis II

Explore Mars, Inc. sends our deepest congratulations to Artemis II crew members Commander Reid Wiseman (USA), Pilot Victor Glover (USA), Mission Specialist Christina Koch (USA), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (Canada), for their historic mission and for a safe splashdown back on Earth.

Their journey to the Moon and back was the direct result of years of extraordinary work from NASA, industry, and international partners. “This historic mission was exactly what the country and the world needed,” said Explore Mars CEO, Chris Carberry. “Artemis II represents a positive future for humanity. It not only demonstrated American leadership in space exploration, but also the value of international cooperation for the benefit of all humanity.”

Explore Mars, Inc. eagerly awaits future Artemis missions that will return humans to the surface of the Moon beginning in 2028, which will pave the way for the first human mission to Mars during the 2030s.

“The success of Artemis II shows us that the technologies, partnerships, and courage required to live and work beyond Earth are within our grasp,” stated Explore Mars Vice President for Innovation Partnerships, Tiffany Vora. “What matters now is that we carry forward the best of who we are, building a future in space that reflects our highest values and brings tangible benefits back to life on Earth.”

As stated by Explore Mars Executive Vice President, Joe Cassady, “Even though we are Explore Mars, we share your ‘Moon joy.’ Well done, Artemis II!”

04/07/2026

An amazing 'Earthset' image from Artemis II. If all goes as planned, we should be seeing many more images like this over the next few years.

Over seven hours, the astronauts took thousands of photos that will help inform scientists’ understanding of the moon. The first ones have now been released.

04/02/2026

Godspeed Artemis II: The Next Chapter of Human Spaceflight Begins

Explore Mars, Inc. enthusiastically congratulates the Artemis II crew, NASA, and NASA’s industry and international partners on the successful launch of Artemis II. “After 54 years, humanity is finally returning to the Moon!” said Explore Mars CEO Chris Carberry. “This is a historic first step that will lead to humanity's return to the surface of the Moon in this decade, and later to the first human missions to Mars.”

Artemis II is the first human mission that will aim to reach the lunar system since Apollo 17 in 1972. Launched aboard the SLS rocket, the Orion crew capsule will carry four astronauts - three Americans and one Canadian - on a ten-day mission, traveling a greater distance from Earth than any human has traveled before. During their mission, crew members will test vital systems, such as support and radiation protection, and monitor the physiological impact of deep space travel. The Artemis II launch comes a week after NASA’s Ignition event, where a new and ambitious cadence of future Artemis missions to the surface of the Moon was announced. NASA also announced the Space Reactor‑1 Freedom mission, the first Mars mission powered by nuclear electric propulsion. This demonstration will be a pathfinder for future space nuclear missions and will provide a significant step forward in transportation systems for Mars. It will deliver a set of Ingenuity-class helicopters to Mars – the Skyfall mission – where they can provide additional reconnaissance and landing site imaging.

According to Explore Mars Vice President for Innovation Partnerships, Dr. Tiffany Vora, “Artemis II is the start of a new era of human presence beyond Earth, built on international partnership and a commitment to peaceful progress. I'm confident that the same ingenuity required to live and work in space will drive more resilient, sustainable systems here on Earth. We do our best work when we reach for the stars, together.”

01/13/2026

Register Today for the 2026 Humans to the Moon and Mars Summit

Explore Mars is excited to announce that for the first time, the Humans to the Moon and Mars Summit (H2M2) will take place at Rice University in Houston, Texas, on July 21-23, 2026.

Exclusive Early Bird Opportunity: With only 50 spots available at the special early-bird rate, be sure to reserve your place at the cutting edge of exploration and innovation.

H2M2 will gather the top experts in Moon and Mars architecture and systems, science, human health, innovation, policy, STEM education, and innumerable other disciplines who will provide the latest news about and generate momentum for our Moon and Mars goals.

Dates: July 21-23, 2026
July 21, 2026: Workshops/Tours
July 22-23, 2026: H2M2 Plenary Sessions
Location: BioScience Research Collaborative Auditorium, Rice University, Houston, Texas

- H2M2 2026 will focus on questions that include:

- Artemis II: Return to the Moon
- Managing the Moon and Mars: How can NASA and its partners efficiently return to the Moon in the 2020s and to Mars in the 2030s?
- Selecting a Landing Site on Mars for the First Human Missions
- ESCAPADE: Small missions to Mars
- Preserving Space Science. Enabling Human Exploration
- CMPS: Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to Mars
- Can the United States Beat China Back to the Moon?
- The Age of Heavy Lift: SLS, Starship, and New Glenn
- Nuclear Power Enabling a Sustainable Mars Campaign
- Mobility on the Moon and Mars: Spacesuits, rovers, drones, etc.
- Food and Nutrition in Deep Space
- How Do Private Space Stations Advance Humans to Mars?
- How can we most effectively protect the physical and mental health of astronauts voyaging to and from the Moon and Mars?

During Humans to the Moon and Mars Week, attendees can look forward to:

- Networking Receptions: Rub shoulders and connect with key figures in the space industry.
- Exclusive Tours & Collaborative Initiatives: Get a first-hand behind-the-scenes look into the future of space exploration.
- Expert-led Workshops: Dive deep into STEM advancements, the integral role of skilled trades in space, and the latest in Martian innovation.

The objective of H2M2 is to advance the goal of a sustainable and permanent human presence on the Moon beginning in the 2020s and on Mars no later than the 2030s. To advance this objective, H2M2 aims to foster synergy and shared commitment between governmental entities and the private sector, ensuring a united and successful approach to a sustainable future in space for all humanity.

MORE DETAILS SOON!!!

The objective of H2M2 is to advance the goal of a sustainable & permanent human presence on the Moon in the 2020s and on Mars in the 2030s

12/23/2025

09/11/2025

NASA announced yesterday that NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover found some of the strongest evidence yet that Mars may have supported life in the past. This is just the latest example of a growing body of evidence that there was (or is) life on Mars.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Do you think there was - or still is - life on Mars?

"The idea was for our payload to get us just up to the potential biosignature designation and have the rest of the story told by instruments here on Earth."

08/13/2025

A very exciting mission for Blue Origin. An improved communications network between Earth and Mars is critical for future human missions to Mars.

Built upon our existing and affordable Blue Ring platform, our Mars Telecommunications Orbiter is ready to support NASA’s Mars mission in 2028.

08/09/2025

Remembering Capt. Jim Lovell, American Hero and ASF Champion

scholarship foundation

Best known as the commander of Apollo 13, Capt. Jim Lovell’s legacy extended far beyond spaceflight. A trailblazing astronaut, devoted family man, and tireless advocate for education and science, Lovell embodied the highest ideals of character and service.

From his pivotal roles in Gemini and Apollo missions to his leadership of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Capt. Lovell inspired generations through courage, integrity, and vision.

We honor his extraordinary life and lasting impact.

Family Statement:

"We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, USN Captain James A. “Jim” Lovell, a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader and space explorer. He was 97.

We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind."