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Mars Direct
“Bob Zubrin really, nearly alone, changed our thinking on this issue.”—Carl Sagan, The Denver Post
If you ever daydream about space travel and human space flight—or hope to one day rove the Red Planet alongside Curiosity—then MARS DIRECT will teach you how we can get there
The human race is at a crossroads. In the coming decades, we will make decisions regarding our human spaceflight program that will lead to one of two familiar the open universe of Star Trek, where we allow ourselves the opportunity to spread our wings and attempt to flourish as an interplanetary species—or the closed, dystopian, and ultimately self-destructive world of Soylent Green, constantly at war with one another over humanity’s “limited” resources. If we plan to survive ourselves and one day travel to the stars, the human race’s next stepping-stone must be a manned mission to and the eventual colonization of Mars.
In this four-part e-special, Mars Society founder Dr. Robert Zubrin details the challenges of a manned Earth-to-Mars mission. Challenges which, according to Zubrin, we are technologically more prepared to overcome than the obstacles of the missions to the moon of the sixties and seventies. Dr. Zubrin’s relatively simple plan, called Mars Direct, could feasibly have humans on the surface of Mars within a decade. Zubrin also discusses the current predicament of NASA, the promise of privatized space flight from companies like SpaceX, and the larger implication behind the absolute necessity to open the final frontier and transform from a planetary society into an interplanetary society. Our future as a species requires us to take baby steps away from the cradle that is planet Earth or, ultimately, perish here.
If you ever daydream about space travel and human space flight—or hope to one day rove the Red Planet alongside Curiosity—then MARS DIRECT will teach you how we can get there
The human race is at a crossroads. In the coming decades, we will make decisions regarding our human spaceflight program that will lead to one of two familiar the open universe of Star Trek, where we allow ourselves the opportunity to spread our wings and attempt to flourish as an interplanetary species—or the closed, dystopian, and ultimately self-destructive world of Soylent Green, constantly at war with one another over humanity’s “limited” resources. If we plan to survive ourselves and one day travel to the stars, the human race’s next stepping-stone must be a manned mission to and the eventual colonization of Mars.
In this four-part e-special, Mars Society founder Dr. Robert Zubrin details the challenges of a manned Earth-to-Mars mission. Challenges which, according to Zubrin, we are technologically more prepared to overcome than the obstacles of the missions to the moon of the sixties and seventies. Dr. Zubrin’s relatively simple plan, called Mars Direct, could feasibly have humans on the surface of Mars within a decade. Zubrin also discusses the current predicament of NASA, the promise of privatized space flight from companies like SpaceX, and the larger implication behind the absolute necessity to open the final frontier and transform from a planetary society into an interplanetary society. Our future as a species requires us to take baby steps away from the cradle that is planet Earth or, ultimately, perish here.
102 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2013
18 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Robert Zubrin
41 books164 followersRobert M. Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer and author, best known for his advocacy of human exploration of Mars. He and his colleague at Martin Marietta, David Baker, were the driving force behind Mars Direct, a proposal in a 1990 research paper intended to produce significant reductions in the cost and complexity of such a mission.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 3, 2019
Almost a pamphlet - not really a book. Zurbin's "The Case For Mars" is fantastic, and I really think he should just have republished an expanded version of that book, instead of writing this.
Some interesting facts:
- The average sunlight received at the martian equator is about equivalent to that received in Alaska or Sweden, and in some places temperature can be over 50F/10C
- Martian days are nearly 24 hours in duration, which is important not only for our wellbeing there, but also for the circadian rhythms of plants
- A 6 month transit trajectory is ideal over faster trajectories, because it allows for a free return orbit, which is a critical safety feature for a manned mission
- NASA spent roughly the same in the period 1961-1973 vs 2000-2012, in spite of being dramatically more productive in the former period. Zurbin argues, without going into any details, that this is due to the cost-inefficient shuttle mode of operations vs the Apollo-mode of operations.
Some interesting facts:
- The average sunlight received at the martian equator is about equivalent to that received in Alaska or Sweden, and in some places temperature can be over 50F/10C
- Martian days are nearly 24 hours in duration, which is important not only for our wellbeing there, but also for the circadian rhythms of plants
- A 6 month transit trajectory is ideal over faster trajectories, because it allows for a free return orbit, which is a critical safety feature for a manned mission
- NASA spent roughly the same in the period 1961-1973 vs 2000-2012, in spite of being dramatically more productive in the former period. Zurbin argues, without going into any details, that this is due to the cost-inefficient shuttle mode of operations vs the Apollo-mode of operations.
June 30, 2024
This book suffers from being being entirely logical and thus utterly missing the point of why we have not gone to Mars nor are we ever going to Mars in my lifetime. It is because there is no political will to do so. Frankly there has always existed a lot of political will against space because there was always something here on Earth that people thought could be fixed if only... if only there were enough money and how could you spend money on space when little children are starving? and so forth. So we stopped spending money on space and little children are still starving.
And making arguments like the one I just did will do no good whatsoever because it is not about the children (or fill-in-the-blank with whatever cause you support and probably should support to some degree or another). It is a lack of will to explore and to risk. It is not logical. It is emotional and no amount of logic will change anyone's mind.
So... good read. Probably pointless.
And making arguments like the one I just did will do no good whatsoever because it is not about the children (or fill-in-the-blank with whatever cause you support and probably should support to some degree or another). It is a lack of will to explore and to risk. It is not logical. It is emotional and no amount of logic will change anyone's mind.
So... good read. Probably pointless.
February 27, 2021
This pamphlet brings a quick overview about the current possibilities to send crewed missions to mars with today's tech. I understand the frustrating history of lobbyists within many sectors, and how, in this case, they have delayed the future of space, potentially leaving many of us grounded from the opportunity to travel to space on affordable options. Zubrin has a challenging and "aggressive" tone to dive into his frustrations, but all based on logic and science, read the idea, not the guy behind.
October 19, 2025
Some interesting views if you take the exploration of Mars as more important than the life of the people you send. Of course NASA after apollo 13 have taken a different view, which is why no person has gone above low earth orbit in 50 years.
November 18, 2018
Great summary of two ideas.
First, Zubrin's concept of a direct-to-mars-and-return mission. This is a minimal-cost mission, which before SpaceX, was anticipated to be about $10-15B. Now that the Falcon launch vehicles are proven, the cost and risk have fallen substantially, but the likely mission has also expanded in scope, but still, this idea of a limited mission using just the required steps and technology, rather than NASA's attempts to justify a bunch of existing programs by linking them through tortured and tangential logic to a very complex and massively expensive plan, is solid.
Second, Zubrin's analysis of NASA's culture (particularly in the Shuttle era, and pre-SpaceX; 1980s-2010 or so) is spot on -- it is a pathologically risk averse bureaucracy and unsuited to the task.
Before SpaceX, I had basically given up on space as a viable field of human endeavor, as governments have every incentive wrong in doing it well. Fortunately, this book is now actually somewhat overcome by events it itself might have accelerated, and the "Mars Direct" option might not be the best option, but rather a more ambitious, but even more efficient, "Mars to Stay" could be better.
First, Zubrin's concept of a direct-to-mars-and-return mission. This is a minimal-cost mission, which before SpaceX, was anticipated to be about $10-15B. Now that the Falcon launch vehicles are proven, the cost and risk have fallen substantially, but the likely mission has also expanded in scope, but still, this idea of a limited mission using just the required steps and technology, rather than NASA's attempts to justify a bunch of existing programs by linking them through tortured and tangential logic to a very complex and massively expensive plan, is solid.
Second, Zubrin's analysis of NASA's culture (particularly in the Shuttle era, and pre-SpaceX; 1980s-2010 or so) is spot on -- it is a pathologically risk averse bureaucracy and unsuited to the task.
Before SpaceX, I had basically given up on space as a viable field of human endeavor, as governments have every incentive wrong in doing it well. Fortunately, this book is now actually somewhat overcome by events it itself might have accelerated, and the "Mars Direct" option might not be the best option, but rather a more ambitious, but even more efficient, "Mars to Stay" could be better.
September 12, 2015
If you haven't read The Case for Mars, read that first/instead. The only thing of substance that this work adds is some thoughts on using the SpaceX Falcon/Dragon combination in a mission configuration Zubrin calls Dragon Direct. The last part, entitled The Ultimate Stakes, feels completely out of place and looks like a summary of Merchants of Despair (which I have not read), made only worse by the introductory quote by Hitler.
March 27, 2016
This is a concise version of the content of The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must. It is pitched at an audience that is interested in going to Mars, but not so concerned with reading all the engineering details that Zubrin gives in The Case for Mars. If you fall into this category, I highly recommend this book. But if you really want to understand the chewy details (and Zubrin can deliver lots of them), then skip this book and go straight to the TCfM.
November 2, 2015
Book of complaints and grips
There was some interesting and thoughtful ideas about travel to mars along with insight about how a base camp can be set up. However, the vast majority of the book is just never-ending criticism of the Obama administration and a critique of the failures of government and NASA. I'm sure there is another side to the story, and I certainly don't profess to know the truth but if you want to learn more about mars and traveling to mars, this is not a very good read. It can best be described as a bitch-session. If you hate Obama then this will reinforce what you already think.
There was some interesting and thoughtful ideas about travel to mars along with insight about how a base camp can be set up. However, the vast majority of the book is just never-ending criticism of the Obama administration and a critique of the failures of government and NASA. I'm sure there is another side to the story, and I certainly don't profess to know the truth but if you want to learn more about mars and traveling to mars, this is not a very good read. It can best be described as a bitch-session. If you hate Obama then this will reinforce what you already think.
October 9, 2019
Ever wondered how we could get to Mars if the Space program was ran by a competent engineer who'd keep the program within a reasonable budget and on time, without any pork for big aerospace firms?
If so, then grab this book. Written by Rob Zubrin, a brilliant engineer, and focused on proper strategies for getting us to Mars and establishing a base there. Not in 50 years time but within 5.
A great read for anyone, you dont need to be an engineer to understand this. Well written and worth a read.
If so, then grab this book. Written by Rob Zubrin, a brilliant engineer, and focused on proper strategies for getting us to Mars and establishing a base there. Not in 50 years time but within 5.
A great read for anyone, you dont need to be an engineer to understand this. Well written and worth a read.
November 7, 2013
Zubrin explains how a manned mission to Mars could be accomplished imminently, with today's technology, and without even increasing NASA's budget.. as well as the political obstacles. It was a fun and enlightening 1-2 hour read, although the last chapter's Nazi allusions go too far, and I would've liked a more balanced coverage of his opponents' views.
October 16, 2018
Quick read, but political, and interesting for those curious about what it would take to get to Mars. Though the focus on blame and disdain for political figures/administration and decisions makes me question the accuracy of some of the technical parts (if the author is potentially blinded to some areas from bias).
August 21, 2013
Although short, it is a nice look at what is "wrong" with NASA and the space policy bureaucracy. The mission brief at the beginning was interesting, but very short. The rest of the book gives more insight into the thinking of Zubrin and his reasons for starting the Mars Society.
August 24, 2015
Strong critique of Obama's plans
This is a bit of a polemic but a convincing one. The argument for a rational approach to risk in space exploration resonates for other fields also such as in the Foreign Service.
This is a bit of a polemic but a convincing one. The argument for a rational approach to risk in space exploration resonates for other fields also such as in the Foreign Service.
May 30, 2016
Robert is an excellent writer. He makes a compelling case for space exploration to Mars. If you are interested in knowing about the possibility of travelling to Mars and colonizing it - this is the book to read.
February 19, 2013
Great book on how to get humans to Mars in ten years. Occupy Mars!
February 13, 2014
Covers all the same could as The Case for Mars, a little more concisely, and glibly.
December 22, 2015
And now I am thoroughly depressed about the current status of space exploration.
March 2, 2016
It is always easy to critique someone, but it is much more difficult to achieve something yourself
November 4, 2019
Decent book, but too short to be very meaningful. I think this was supposed to be a very condensed version of his “The Case for Mars”, which I liked better.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews