The first DES@Mars mission was born in 2024 at DES, paving the way for a new era of educational space exploration. In 2025, the journey continues even more dynamically as students are transported to the year 2101, where the Martians Pro work to build a sustainable human community on the red planet. DES@Mars 2025, created by DES School in collaboration with Mars Society Hellas—the official chapter of The Mars Society International—marks the second Interactive Mars Analogue Simulation in Greece and transforms science fiction into a vivid, hands-on reality for elementary- and middle-school students. More at https://deschool.eu
and http://hellas.marssociety.org/des@mars2025
The new mission, titled Mars & Earth: For a New Future of Humanity, immerses children in a multidimensional scenario where they become tomorrow’s astronauts, scientists, engineers and leaders, called to confront the scientific, social and ethical challenges of life far from Earth. With strong emphasis on STEAM learning, teamwork and leadership development, the experience brings them face-to-face with the true essence of exploration.
For younger students (Grades 1–3), the adventure begins with their first landing on Mars. They are invited to solve riddles, raise the Mars flag and identify essential resources such as water using fundamental research tools. For older students (Grades 4–6), the narrative becomes more complex: a conflict between Earth authorities and Martian settlers highlights issues of justice, economic independence and self-governance. The Treaty of Peaceful Coexistence is on the verge of being signed, the Mars Declaration of Independence is gaining momentum, and Mars Free Radio is bringing together the voices of the colonists envisioning a new interplanetary future.
The action remains vivid throughout the mission. Communications take place through walkie-talkies; mission doctors assess the crew’s readiness with a thermometer and an oximeter; water is searched for with a metal detector; and a sudden solar storm—signalled by an alarm—forces astronauts to evacuate immediately. In the background, Mars Free Radio broadcasts messages of freedom and unity between the two worlds.
At the end of the mission, every student receives a Certificate of Participation, mission badges, lanyards, stickers and their personal action cards, tangible reminders of an experience that leaves a lasting mark on imagination and learning.
A warm thank-you goes to Alexandros Krasakis for designing and coordinating this pioneering program, which continues to inspire hundreds of young “astronauts” to dream without limits.
All mission material—from photos and descriptions to role details and activity insights—is collected both on the DES blog and on the Mars Society Hellas blog, allowing everyone to explore how the experience came to life across both editions of the program:
https://www.deschool.eu/des@mars2025
http://hellas.marssociety.org/des@mars2024/
http://hellas.marssociety.org/des@mars2024/commander
http://hellas.marssociety.org/des@mars2024/doctor
http://hellas.marssociety.org/des@mars2024/engineer
http://hellas.marssociety.org/des@mars2024/scientistDES@Mars is not just a simulation. It is the first step children take toward tomorrow.