The 2,546th Meeting of the Society

December 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM

Powell Auditorium at the Cosmos Club

Robotic and Human Exploration of the Moon and Mars

From renewed lunar exploration to human missions to Mars

Pascal Lee

Founder and Chairman, Mars Institute
Senior Planetary Scientist, SETI Institute
Director, NASA Haughton-Mars Project
Professor of Planetary Sciences, Kepler Space University
Chief Scientist, Ceres Robotics

About the Lecture

This lecture will discuss the history of robotic and human lunar exploration, missions now in development, and how renewed exploration of the Moon can prepare the way for eventual human missions to Mars, including the science, resources, technologies, surface operations, and operating experience needed to live and work beyond Earth.

About the Speaker

Dr. Lee’s research has focused on Mars, its moons and the scientific, technological and operational requirements for future robotic and human planetary exploration. Through the Haughton-Mars Project and related work, he has studied terrestrial environments that resemble conditions on the Moon or Mars and has helped test rovers, spacesuits, habitats, scientific instruments, surface vehicles and exploration strategies for future missions.