● Lunch & Learn Series
Life on the Red Planet: Inside the Hypatia Mars Analog Missions
Join Hypatia Mars crew members Carla Conejo and Estel Blay for a virtual conversation on what it takes to prepare for a journey to Mars, and how these analog missions shape a more sustainable future in space.
Free for WIA-Canada members · Register on Zeffy
About the Event
Hypatia Mars is a women-led organization based in Barcelona, Spain, dedicated to advancing space research and outreach while inspiring future generations by showcasing female talent in STEAM. Through analog space missions, research projects, and educational initiatives, Hypatia Mars combines rigorous scientific research with public engagement to make space exploration more accessible and impactful. During this session, Carla Conejo and Estel Blay will share their experience with the Hypatia I and II analog missions at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, USA, as well as a look ahead to the upcoming Hypatia III mission, planned for 2027. These missions test technologies, conduct scientific experiments, and address the human, social, and ethical challenges posed by the future exploration of the Red Planet. Through the perspectives of crew members Carla Conejo and Estel Blay, we’ll reflect on what it means to prepare for a journey to Mars, what lessons from these missions can be applied on Earth, and how collaboration across disciplines can contribute to a more responsible, sustainable, and equitable future in space. The session includes a 30-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute live Q&A.Agenda
12:00 – 12:30 PM ET
Presentation: Life on the Red Planet
12:30 – 12:45 PM ET
Live Q&A
About the Speakers
Meet the Hypatia Mars crew members joining this session.
Carla Conejo González
Co-Founder, Hypatia Mars
Carla Conejo González is the co-founder of Hypatia Mars, a women-led organization advancing space research and outreach through analog missions. She served as Biologist and Executive Officer on the Hypatia I crew, the first all-female team selected for a space simulation mission at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, and continues to champion greater visibility for women in STEAM fields.
Dr. Estel Blay Carreras
Commander, Hypatia III
Dr. Estel Blay Carreras holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Science and Technology and manages the ESA Phi-Lab NET Spain program at the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). She will command the upcoming Hypatia III analog mission, set to take place in 2027, and is passionate about bringing space science to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of women in STEAM.
In Partnership With
Hypatia Mars
This Lunch & Learn is hosted in partnership with Hypatia Mars, a women-led organization based in Barcelona, Spain, advancing space research and outreach through analog missions.