Want to Go to Mars Someday?

If you’ve always wanted to visit the Red Planet, you have Ray Bradbury to thank. Well, sort of.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, The Planetary Society will be presenting Bradbury with the Thomas O. Paine Award for the Advancement of Human Exploration of Mars. As the author of The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury has inspired many people — scientists included — to dream of visiting Mars.

The award, named after the former NASA administrator who served at the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and long-time director of the society, will be presented at a gala with the theme “Our Next Age of Exploration.” The event coincides with The Planetary Society’s 25^th anniversary and will be held in Arcadia, Calif.

James Cameron, The Titanic director who has been spending time shooting undersea documentaries of late, will also receive an award: the Cosmos Award for the public presentation of science.