Every culture in the world, ancient and modern, celebrates and admires explorers because explorers create and capture new value in resources, exchange, knowledge, technology, leadership and learning. Based at City, University of London, I study exploration and explorers. My sources range from historic accounts of expeditions to interviews with contemporary explorers of many kinds. In recent years I’ve embarked on expeditions to the Colombian jungle to visit lost cities, climbed mountains and camped at 20 below in the Arctic Circle. As humanity considers its next great interplanetary journey, it’s a privilege to join Crew 238 at MDRS.