The Mars Society is the world's largest and most influential space advocacy organization dedicated to the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars. Established in 1998 by Dr. Robert Zubrin, the society educates the public, media, and government on the benefits of exploring Mars and creating a permanent human presence on the Red Planet. Their mission includes organizing public outreach, promoting international support for Mars research, and advocating for commercial space ventures. The society's vision is to achieve permanent human settlement on Mars within the next decade through cost-effective missions and utilizing resources on Mars. Their programs and initiatives involve Mars analog simulations, public outreach, educational programs, political advocacy, research, and international conventions.