Destination: Mars, Urges The Planetary Society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/10/2003

CONTACT:
Mat Kaplan
Email: mat.kaplan@planetary.org

The Planetary Society is mobilizing its members and the general public to write President Bush in support of a human space exploration program geared towards the ultimate goal of landing men and women on Mars.

"The U.S. human space flight program has been bogged down in Earth orbit for more than 30 years," said Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society. "It is time to move outward."

Friedman, in a letter to Society members, writes: "The future of the United States space program is at stake. Its human space flight program is grounded, and the purposes that it serves are being questioned, in Congress, in the media, and in the general public. The Bush Administration is now conducting a high level review of U.S. space policy, with the goal of issuing a Presidential Directive, perhaps in a few weeks. It may set the course for human space flight, and all space exploration, for a generation."

The Planetary Society urges those who favor human space exploration to seize the moment and write the President while U.S. space policy is being formulated.

Recently, the Society's Chairman of the Board, Bruce Murray, and Society President, Wesley T. Huntress, Jr. testified to the House Science Committee, recommending that America's human space flight program be drastically revised to include the ultimate goal of establishing a human outpost on Mars.

To read their full congressional testimony, go to The Planetary Society’s website. Additionally, the web site includes such background information as the conclusions and recommendations from a recent workshop about the future of human space transportation endorsed by The Planetary Society and the American Astronautical Society.

About the Planetary Society

The Planetary Society has inspired millions of people to explore other worlds and seek other life. Today, its international membership makes the non-governmental Planetary Society the largest space interest group in the world. Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman founded the Planetary Society in 1980. Bill Nye, a long time member of the Planetary Society's Board, serves as CEO.

The Planetary Society
85 South Grand
Pasadena, CA 91105 USA
Web: www.planetary.org
Voice: (626) 793-5100
Fax: (626) 793-5528
Email: tps@planetary.org

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