Mars Week 2024 Debate: Are human missions essential or are robotics the future?

A public engagement event hosted by the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck as part of Mars Week 2024. Exploration of our Solar System has never been more exciting with many new space missions planned or on route to their distant destinations, promising to increase our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. Exploring the Moon and Mars has been at the forefront of our endeavours so far making discussion of how essential human-crewed missions are relative to future possibilities with robotic-only missions of great significance. Our event 'Exploring the Moon and Mars: Are human missions essential or are robotics the future?' aims to highlight both sides of this exciting and topical debate. After hearing from our experts and delving deeper by asking them your questions, you can cast your own vote for Team Human or Team Robotic Exploration!