So, you’d like to build a town on Mars… and not die. I hear the not dying part is important to most travelers. Well, Mars is going to present some issues that you’ll have to overcome if you want to live there. It’s small, it’s cold, it’s far away, and there’s no breathable air or very much in the way of drinkable water. If you think the Sahara or Gobi deserts look desolate then you’ve got another thing coming. You’re still interested? Well, you glutton for punishment, here’s some of the science that you need to know before you get started.

Whether you’re Elon Musk or an ordinary avid space enthusiast, Mars presents a unique set of challenges to the future explorer. This course will talk through some of what we know of Mars and its challenges in a collegial environment intended to help you get started in your planning.

If you thought the Oregon Trail was brutal, just wait until you try the Mars Hohmann Transfer Orbit.

Shuttles launch on this six-week lecture series starting in March.

This series meets Saturdays at noon Pacific, 3pm Eastern, 8pm London.

Enrollment is limited to 16 people to allow for good discussions and small group work to take place. This is meant to be a science salon experience. There will be suggested readings and media to consume between sessions, however, if work or life get in the way you’ll still be able to have a good experience.

• Session 1: Mars is definitely going to kill you: the how and the why
• Session 2: So, why do we want to go to Mars anyway?
• Session 3: Sci-Fi makes Mars look easy; where is the lie?
• Session 4: What are the real plans for exploring Mars?
• Session 5: What do we [have to] pack if we're going to Mars?
• Session 6: What can we do to prepare for Mars?

There will be a course related Discord server for chatting between sessions and continuing the dialogue into the future.