MAR 98-086

Mars Governance
Declan O’Donnell, President, World Space Bar Association, 3300 East 14th Avenue, Denver, CO 80206

In order to assist the persons who are settling Mars, there are several concerns that should be resolved in advance in respect to Mars Governance. The threshold level of concerns relates to standards, planning, legal tender, municipal services and the concept of authority in the community. It is asserted that Mars Governance has unique and specific needs, ones that will dovetail with the kinds of missions to be developed or promoted by the Mars society. These will be reviewed and catalogued. Mars Governance is thereby different from, and independent from, space governance paradigms generally, albeit a future reconciliation is possible, if and when such is ever developed. The assertion includes the proposition, therefore, that Mars Governance has priority. It also suggests that the Mars Society should take a leadership role in that process. The paper will suggest how to proceed on these assumptions.