The 2020 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M) Goes Virtual!

Join us for ‘Virtual’ H2M 2020! As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and with the desire to assure the health and safety of our attendees, speakers, sponsors, and other guests, the 2020 Humans to Mars Summit will now be virtual. The virtual edition of H2M 2020 will take place on August 31-September 3, 2020.

"We have gained an enormous amount of experience over the past several months with our compelling and interactive online programming, as well as with creating very successful virtual social activities,” commented Explore Mars CEO Chris Carberry. “While we wish that we could come together in person later this summer, our virtual H2M 2020 will be an extraordinary event for extraordinary times and will be viewed by thousands of people around the globe."

Just a few of the many exciting topics that will be discussed include:

• The World Goes to Mars: A panel discussion about the convoy of international missions that will be sent to Mars in 2020 and beyond
• Space Exploration: A Unique Opportunity for Diversity and Equality
• Lessons from COVID-19 – And How to Apply to Mars Exploration
• The Moon in 2024/Mars in 2033: Opportunities and Challenges- A look at current Architecture
• Managing Planetary Protection
• Inspiring the Future: The Power of Mars and STEAM
• Influencing Mars: Utilizing social media to get humans to Mars
• Entry, Descent, and Landing on Mars
• In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and Surface Power on the Moon and Mars
• The Human Factor: Maintaining Human Health on Mars Missions
• Selecting Landing Sites for Humans on Mars
• Creating Reliable Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)

In addition, Virtual H2M 2020 will feature online social activities, special guests and musical acts, and ongoing interviews by our Masters of Ceremonies, Mat Kaplan and Sonya Gavankar.

Speakers will include:

• James Morhard (NASA; Deputy Administrator)
• Representative Kendra Horn (Chair, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, US House Science, Space and Technology Committee)
• Kathy Lueders (NASA, Associate Administrator, HEOMD)
• Lori Glaze (NASA, Director, Planetary Science Division)
• Charles Bolden (Former NASA Administrator)
• Alan Stern (Planetary Scientist; Principal Investigator, New Horizons mission)
• Sian Proctor (Geoscientist, Analog astronaut, Explorer)
• Mat Kaplan (Planetary Radio)
• Mary Lynn Dittmar (Coalition for Deep Space Exploration)
• Tim Cichan (Lockheed Martin)
• Vera Mulyani (Mars City Design)
• Clive Neal (University of Notre Dame)
• Karina Perez (AIA; Manager, Strategic Initiatives)
• Joe Cassady (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
• Tanya Harrison (Planet Federal; Planetary Scientist)
• Janet Ivey (Explore Mars, Inc.; President)

"Our intention for the Explore Mars 2020 Humans to Mars Summit is to further expand our organization's efforts to highlight our commitment to public outreach, STEM education and at the same time foster and celebrate humanity's diversity," said Janet Ivey, President of Explore Mars. "I am exceedingly proud that in these very trying times for all humanity, Explore Mars is taking the lead in utilizing the tools of modern technology to provide the 2020 Summit in a format that can be readily viewed by people of all ages and backgrounds and from all around the world."

Details regarding the H2M 2020 web platform as well as a detailed agenda will be made available in the upcoming weeks. Meanwhile, plans are underway for the 2021 Humans to Mars Summit that will take place on May 11-13, 2021 at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC. More details on this event will be announced during the virtual 2020 H2M.