In the future, explorers arrive at the Martian North Geographical Pole and think back across the vista of time to previous epochs of great adventure on Earth (painting, Michael Carroll, commissioned by Charles Cockell, 2019).
The Foundation set up a series of Mars and Lunar Exploration Awards in 1994, for the brave men and women who will one day launch expeditions to some of the most prominent and challenging natural features of Mars and the Moon. There is a separate endowment for these five awards that was set up in 1995. These awards can be claimed when the challenges have been met.
The Foundation will give awards to the first explorers to cross the Martian North and South Poles by overland route, climb Mount Olympus, and accomplish other significant milestones in our exploration and settlement of the Moon and the Red Planet. These awards are not intended to be large. They are the Foundation’s way of recognising a link between the past exploration of Earth and its environments and our future scientific and exploration adventures on other worlds. We may add further awards further out in the Solar System once these have been claimed.
For the first team to accomplish the overland crossing of the Martian south pole taking in the geographical South Pole.
For the first team to accomplish the overland crossing of the Martian north pole taking in the geographical Nouth Pole.
For the first team to accomplish the unsupported assault on the summit of the highest mountain in the Solar System, Olympus Mons on Mars.
Valles Marineris Exploration Award
For the first team to accomplish an unsupported (no vehicle) mountaineering descent to the bottom of the Valles Marineris canyon on Mars from its rim.
For the first team to accomplish the circumnavigation of the Moon using any route.