Mars

The human exploration of the Red Planet has been discussed in arduous detail since the publication of Wernher von Braun’s “The Mars Project” in 1953, with studies emerging from NASA and the Soviet/Russian space agency for decades, and more recently China and other emerging space powers. Yet the date for human exploration always seems just out of reach, perhaps a decade or more away. But it seems that we have arrived at a new dawn—with more sophisticated robotic explorers of many nations reaching mars every two years, and serious planning by entities such as SpaceX underway, a Martian Renaissance is at hand. Nobody knows more about upcoming Mars efforts than the speakers and panelists at the ISDC’s Mars sessions—join us for expert insights and the latest information on this greatest of human adventures.

Pascal Lee

Planetary Scientist

Mars Institute, SETI Institute, & NASA Ames Research Center

Pascal Lee

Planetary Scientist

Mars Institute, SETI Institute, & NASA Ames Research Center

Dr Pascal Lee is a planetary scientist with Mars Institute, SETI Institute, and NASA Ames Research Center. He holds an ME in geology and geophysics from the University of Paris, and a PhD in astronomy and space sciences from Cornell where he was Carl Sagan’s last T.A.. Lee’s research focuses on water on Mars, Mars’ moons, ice caves on the Moon and Mars, and planning the future human exploration of Mars. He has led over 30 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica for planetary analog studies and is recipient of the United States Antarctic Service Medal. Lee is also an FAA-certified helicopter commercial pilot and flight instructor, and enjoys painting space art.