Summary

The Mars Society is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the human exploration of Mars. The Mars Virtual Reality (MarsVR) project has a goal to build an engineering-grade virtual reality simulation for future human Mars exploration, public outreach for STEM programs in schools and museums, and training for analog astronauts at our real-life Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) located in the Utah desert.

“Learn the Science, Live the Journey of the human exploration of Mars.”

Our project will deliver a stunning Mars experience to schools, museums, the public and our future space explorers.  Our immediate goal with this crowdfunding campaign is to raise a minimum of $100k over the next six weeks to directly fund the development and operations of MarsVR including our Virtual Reality software application and a PC-only version which will provide accessibility for all.  Assuming a successful campaign, we will release this application on the Steam platform as a free download, with some additional training, educational and research-oriented content available for purchase.  If we exceed the $100k goal, we will accelerate our long-term plans to work with museums and educational institutions to integrate MarsVR into their programs and curriculum.

Meet the Team

Watch this documentary video to meet the team working on MarsVR and how they describe our mission to promote science and the wonder of exploring Mars with these technologies.

What We Need & What You Get

Our $100k goal is divided into four phases of the project which will be executed if their cooresponding $25k targets are reached.

Phase 1 ($25k goal): Completion of the core application including 1 square kilometer of Mars-like terrain, all research facility interiors and exteriors, and core elements of the experience such as a guided tour and ability to traverse the entire landscape.

Phase 2 ($50k goal): Training procedures for spacesuit donning, oxygen and heads-up display elements for astronauts on EVA.  

Phase 3 ($75k goal): Multiple user environment allowing 2 or more people to participate in the same environment, see and hear each other, and work together to perform tasks.  Basic rover driving scenarios.  Enhanced training procedures and improved quality of terrain and facilities.

Phase 4 ($100k goal): Enhanced tactile and sensory feedback for astronauts on EVA and within the facilities.  Comprehensive training including tactile and sensor feedback.  

If we exceed these goals or if our Ultimate VR package is purchased (see below), we will be able to accelerate our future phases to provide museum exhibit-quality rover driving scenarios and detailed K-12 experiences, educational-focused training, and comprehensive STEM curriculum.

Pledge Levels & Rewards

Please note that every dollar helps — you can pick any amount to support our project by using the magenta-colored “Back It” button at the top of this page.

Here are the different pledge levels for our campaign:

• $5 or more – Back the Project  for any amount (no specific reward provided).
• $25 – Be The First! – Early “Beta” Access to MarsVR, anticipated by August 2021.
• $50 – Wear Your Support – Get the Metal MarsVR Medallion + Early  “Beta” Access.  A $30 T-Shirt add-on reward is also available at every pledge level.
• $100 – Autographed copy of The Case For Mars by Dr. Robert Zubrin, the book that sparked the movement to send humans to explore Mars + Early “Beta” Access.
• $250 – Place a Name – sponsor an object by placing your name or somebody else’s in MarsVR.  You can choose to include your name on our main Donor plaque in the airlock, or as an “Easter Egg” tied to an object inside or outside the facilities. This is a great gift for somebody special!
• $500 – Sponsor a School or Museum – join our committee to determine specific plans to introduce MarsVR into the educational community, including your specific choice of location.
• $2,500 – Go to Mars!  A single day experience at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah. 
• $5,000 – Join the Crew!  A 3 days, 2 night crew rotation at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah. 
• $100k – Walk on Mars in VR! – You’ll be one of the first on this planet to try out MarsVR on an Infinadeck professional VR treadmill, similar to the one seen in the movie Ready Player One!
• $250k – Ultimate VR Package – Haptic full-body suit, haptic gloves, Infinadeck VR treadmill, smell hardware, a VR headset, a high-end laptop and an enhanced version of the MarsVR app which uses these additional multi-sensory cutting-edge virtual reality hardware.

Sponsorship packages are also available for individuals and organizations to sponsor portions of the application, including naming rights, branding placements, and other comarketing activities — for more information visit our website www.MarsVR.com

Risks & Challenges

While virtual reality development is complex, we are partnering with the industry-leading team at MXTReality in Seattle, Washington who have executed over 100 successful VR applications for commerical, governmental and aerospace industry companies.  Jeff Rayner and his team are world-class experts at all aspects of Virtual Reality and they have already been involved with our project for nearly two years as part of the lead-up to this Crowdfunding Campaign.

The Mars Society and MXTReality will work together to grow an ecosystem of partners, resources and experiences surrounding this VR application and will strive to bring awareness of this work to many different communities including the virtual reality community, the aerospace industry community, the space advocacy community, the NASA community and members of the general public worldwide.

Other Ways You Can Help

We aim to inspire everybody to participate in this campaign. 

If you are unable to directly support this effort by pledging for a reward, we invite you to tell your friends and colleagues about this campaign and use the Indiegogo share tools.  Please make use of the hashtag #MarsVR when talking about this campaign and project on social media.  Access our social media buttons on the top of this Indiegogo page (next to the “Following” button), or by visiting www.MarsSociety.org