Artist's impression of the ExoMars rover and surface platform on the surface of Mars
Artist's impression of the ExoMars rover and surface platform on the surface of Mars. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab.

This summer four missions will launch to Mars setting up an extraordinary year for the exploration of the red planet.

My guest this week on the SpaceQ podcast is Chris Carberry, the CEO of Explore Mars, a not-for-profit that engages stakeholders in an effort to make a Humans to Mars mission a reality.

The organizations holds a variety of events to engage stakeholders including its annual Humans to Mars Summit in Washington every May.

Today, Chris will get us caught up on what the organization is doing, the status of a future human mission to Mars, and weโ€™ll talk about the exciting year 2020 will be for Mars.

The four missions are NASAโ€™s Mars 2020 rover which includes the first ever helicopter, Chinaโ€™s HX-1 mission which consists of an orbiter and small rover, the European Space Agency’s ExoMars lander and rover which has Russia and Canada participation, and lastly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is sending an orbiter on what theyโ€™re calling the Hope Mars Mission. The Japanese are providing the launch for the UAE mission.

By my count thatโ€™s two new orbiters around Mars, three new rovers, a lander and a helicopter. They join 6 operational orbiters, 4 American, 1 European and 1 Indian, along with 1 rover thatโ€™s operational, that being NASAโ€™s Curiosity rover.

Listen in.

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Humans to Mars Report 2019

Marc Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, podcaster and publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media. Marc has 30+ years working in various roles in media, space sector not-for-profits, and internet content development.

Marc started his first Internet creator content business in 1992 and hasn't looked back. When not working Marc loves to explore Canada, the world and document nature through his photography.

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