The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Garrett Reisman, former NASA astronaut, spaceflight pioneer, and USC professor, will serve as a plenary speaker at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22-24 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

A veteran of NASA’s astronaut corps, Dr. Reisman flew aboard all three Space Shuttles—Endeavour, Discovery, and Atlantis—and spent 95 days living and working aboard the International Space Station. During his two space missions, he conducted three spacewalks, operated the station’s robotic systems, and served as a flight engineer.

Following his NASA career, Dr. Reisman joined SpaceX, where he helped lead the company’s efforts to develop human spaceflight capabilities, serving as Director of Space Operations during the formative years of the Crew Dragon program. He later joined the faculty of USC’s Department of Astronautical Engineering, where he continues to educate and inspire the next generation of space explorers and engineers.

Today, Dr. Reisman remains one of the most respected voices in human spaceflight, bringing unique perspectives from both government and commercial space programs. His experience spans the Space Shuttle era, long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station, and the rise of commercial crew transportation—making him exceptionally qualified to discuss the path toward sustainable human exploration of Mars.

To learn more about the upcoming 2026 Mars Society Convention, including how to register online, please visit our website (marssociet.org)!