In 1998 Dr Robert Zubrin brought into being the Mars Society and thousands of people from around the world have flocked to his banner. People from all walks of life have shown support for the exploration and colonisation of Mars. Each year the Mars Society holds its annual conference, when experts and enthusiasts can meet to present and exchange ideas and information. From the first four years ' conferences have been chosen a wide variety of the many papers presented, and then collected together in one volume. Many of the diverse specialisations and concerns of Mars missions are introduced and explained here. Members of the Mars Society share with us their ideas, their knowledge, and their dreams, and encourage us to understand and commit to an important undertaking in the future survival of mankind. Includes a CD-ROM which features a 30-minute video created especially for the book.