The editorial by Bruce Jakosky, Scott Hubbard and colleagues urges NASA to integrate engineering, human health, science and planetary protection from the start of a Mars mission. Their SpaceNews piece, titled "Laying the groundwork for the first human mission to Mars," argues that internal workshops and new imaging capabilities are essential. The authors conducted a workshop that examined hardware, biological considerations and contamination risks in detail. They emphasize that a Mars mission cannot be undertaken by a single nation and that political, legal and moral challenges would arise from a unilateral presence on Mars. The authors point out that the Outer Space Treaty designates celestial bodies as the province of all humankind, while the Artemis Accords establish bilateral arrangements that may fragment future cooperation. They note that competition for resources such as subsurface ice could create disputes if multiple countries pursue similar landing sites. The editorial calls for a binding international ethical code that addresses quarantine enforcement, emergency rescue responsibilities and the limits of biological experimentation. Jakosky and Hubbard suggest that a fifth panel be added to future workshops, comprising diplomats, international jurists and space agency leaders. They reference delays and friction over lunar landing rights and safety zones as evidence that current governance mechanisms are insufficient. The authors propose the creation of a Planetary Stewardship Council, a permanent UN‑affiliated body with authority to set ethical guardrails, adjudicate resource claims and mediate landing disputes. They also recommend a Global Emergency Response Protocol to ensure shared communications and mutual rescue obligations, placing crew survival above national interests. An Open Science and Technology Pledge is advocated to place critical life‑support and propulsion breakthroughs in an international escrow trust, ensuring equitable access. The authors say the Moon can serve as an ethical proving ground, where Artemis missions can test resource‑sharing protocols and emergency cooperation before Mars missions. The International Space Ethics Congress, planned for late 2027–2028, invites diplomats, scientists and philosophers from all nations to develop a common ethical framework. SpaceNews states it will publish diverse perspectives and accepts submissions via email to opinion@spacenews.com.