Explore Mars Inc. and the American Astronautical Society held the Affording Mars workshop of 60 people that represent more than 30 governmental, industry, and academic organizations. The workshop was organized in December, 2013. The workshop concluded that NASA has a chance to launch its manned expedition to Mars in 2030s.

As per 2013 budget proposal, about $17.7 billion has been funded to NASA by President Barack Obama for its manned mission. This amount seems to be $59 million less than what the NASA received in 2012. It has been said in the workshop that the International Space Station (ISS) can serve as an essential staging and testing ground for technologies like spacesuits and telerobotics necessary to a Mars mission.

'Bridge mission' was also discussed in the workshop and speakers revealed that it will bridge experience-and-knowledge gap between the ISS and the Mars. It has been reported that this mission could be part of NASA's plan to visit an asteroid or small space station outside low-Earth orbit.

Three major developing technologies have also been the focus for the people in the workshop. These are: the Space Launch System, NASA's next generation of heavy-lift rocket and the Orion crew module.

Volunteers taking part in the workshop approved that it is utmost important to continue the series of robotic Landers and rovers on Mars by 2020s.