Editing Mars Direct (section)

{{short description|Proposal for a crewed Mars mission}}
'''Mars Direct''' is a proposal for a [[human mission to Mars]] which purports to be both cost-effective and possible with current technology. It was originally detailed in a research paper by [[Martin Marietta]] engineers [[Robert Zubrin]] and [[David Baker (aerospace engineer)|David Baker]] in 1990, and later expanded upon in Zubrin's 1996 book ''[[The Case for Mars]]''. It now serves as a staple of Zubrin's speaking engagements and general advocacy as head of the [[Mars Society]], an organization devoted to the [[colonization of Mars]].<ref>"The Mars Society" https://www.marssociety.org/home/about/purpose Retrieved 9/30/12</ref>

[[File:Mars Direct Base Art 001.png|thumb|350px|Artist depiction of the Habitat Unit and the Earth Return Vehicle on Mars]]{{Toclimit|3}}