The sequence of colors, from red, to green, and finally blue, represent the transformation of Mars from a lifeless planet to one teeming with life, as inspired by Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy of novels. It was flown into space on STS-103 by astronaut John M.

Pascal Lee, a former NASA research engineer designed a tricolor flag for Mars in 1999. The award was presented to Bradbury during The Planetary Society's 25th Anniversary Awards Dinner. Paine Award for the Advancement of Human Exploration of Mars'. On November 12, 2005, Ray Bradbury received a Mars flag as a part of the 'Thomas O. According to Emmart, Paine 'created the Mars flag as an award to the person or organization that he felt had contributed most to advancing the human exploration of Mars'. That illustration was published on the cover of a periodical titled The Planetary Report. Paine's flag design was illustrated by artist Carter Emmart. In the center of the field is a representation of Mars itself, with an arrow pointing out to the star, acknowledging that Mars is not our destination, merely a way station on a journey that has no ending'. Paine's Mars flag includes a sliver of Earth near the hoist side of the flag 'as a reminder of where we came from, and a star near to the other side, to remind us of where we are going. Paine, who served as the third Administrator of NASA, designed a Mars flag in 1984. A flag design showing Mars as a way station between Earth and the stars.

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