Increasing Earth Independence
for Crewed Missions to Mars

Dr. Alonso Vera

March 4, 2026

From the outset of human space exploration, missions have depended on real-time control, guidance, decision-support, and problem-solving from Earth. Human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit will require a greater level of autonomy than is currently possible. This talk will discuss the history of NASA’s human space flight missions in this context and current approaches to increasingly Earth-independent missions including advances in communication technologies, sensors, onboard intelligent systems, and crew preparation.

From his NASA page:  Dr. Alonso Vera is the NASA Senior Scientist for Distributed Collaborative Systems and is a recognized expert in the fields of human-machine systems and artificial intelligence. Since 2000, he has led the development of new technologies at NASA for robotic and human spaceflight missions including Mars Exploration Rovers, Phoenix Mars Lander, Mars Science Laboratory, Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and the Moon to Mars Program. He received a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, a Ph.D. from Cornell University and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.

 

** Note **

For the “Summer Season” (July and August) the NC Astronomers will sometimes meet on-line via Zoom for special programs. Club members will receive the keys to the Zoom conference in their email via Groups.io.

NC Astronomers Meets on the 1st Wednesday each month at 7pm in the
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way
Nevada City, CA 95959
(September – May)

** NC Astronomers “YouTube” channel **

Many of the presentations are recorded and posted to the club’s YouTube channel.

Please see https://www.youtube.com/@ncastronomers9981/videos