Capital Area Chapter contacts:

Ron Hess Chairperson (301) 630-5577

Joe Webster Outreach Coordinator (703) 799-2493

Eric Choi  Assistant for Outreach (301) 603-8014

CAPITAL AREA CHAPTER OF MARS SOCIETY RESPONDS TO NASA ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSSIBLE LIQUID WATER EVIDENCE ON SURFACE OF MARS
 

Earlier today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the possible discovery of surface features that may have been produced by the recent flow of liquid water.
 

According to Ron Hess, Chairperson of the National Capital Area Chapter of the Mars Society, "This stunning discovery, if confirmed, would mark a fundamental change in our understanding of the Red Planet. Rather than a long dead world that lost its water billions of years ago, Mars now appears to have a hydrosphere that was either only lost in the very recent past, or may still be active. This significantly increases the possibility that Mars may have once harbored some form of life -- or still does."
 

If proven, this discovery could also make the near-term human exploration of Mars significantly more feasible because astronauts will be able to 'live off the land' to an even greater extent than previously thought possible. Instead of bringing all their supplies from Earth, which would be very expensive, Mr. Hess explained, "Human explorers could use such water not only for drinking and the production of food, but also to make oxygen to breath and fuel for their exploration of the surface and for their return to Earth."
 

Mr. Hess also stated that the implications of this discovery justify an acceleration of the United States' plans to explore Mars. Presently the United States has no plans to send humans to Mars and only a limited number of robotic missions. Mr. Hess called on Congress and the Administration to add at least $300-million per year to NASA's budget for the robotic exploration of Mars. According to Mr. Hess, "If these funds are added beginning in FY 2001, NASA would be able to begin a much more aggressive and robust program to follow-up on this exciting discovery."
 

Mr. Hess also called on Congress and the Administration to begin laying the groundwork for the human exploration of Mars. He noted that Dr. Robert Zubrin, President and Founder of the Mars Society, has developed a feasible, cost-effective, and robust plan to send humans to Mars that uses existing technology and makes use of the Martian atmosphere to produce fuel and oxygen. This plan, many elements of which have been adopted in NASA's Design Reference Mission (DRM), has an estimated cost of approximately $20- to $30-billion. According to Mr. Hess, "This is more than an order of magnitude less than the $450-billion estimate developed by NASA in the early 1990s." The discovery of water Mr. Hess noted, could reduce the estimated cost even further. The original Mars Direct and DRM plans had envisioned bringing hydrogen feed stock to Mars to react with the atmosphere to produce methane fuel and oxygen. If the discovery of water is verified, there is now a possible source of hydrogen on Mars. Depending on how much water is on the planet, the astronauts may have to bring much less hydrogen to Mars than was originally envisioned the Mars Direct and DRM architectures.
 

Founded in August 1998, the Mars Society is a non-profit organization with over 3,000 members in 30 countries. Its purpose is to further the goal of the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet via both public and political outreach, as well as private research. For more information, visit the Mars Society website at http://www.marssociety.org.
 

The Capitol Area Chapter endeavors to use its proximity to the seat of government to foster support for these goals at both the local and national levels. For more information, please visit the Chapter's website at http://chapters.marssociety.org/usa/dc/. The local chapter also holds meetings on the last Thursday of every month, at the Challenger Center for Space Sciences Education, 1250 N. Pitt Street, in Old Town Alexandria. The public is welcome to attend the meetings, and admission is free.

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