The name 30 SECONDS TO MARS does not have anything to do about space. It is a metaphor to describe the bands music. The name originally came from a thesis that Jared and Shannon found online that was written by a former Harvard Professor. One of the subsections was titled “thirty seconds to mars”. The thesis talked about the exponential growth of technology that relates to humans and saying that we are quite literally thirty seconds to mars.

“For us, the name 30 Seconds To Mars has little to do with space, the universe or anything like that. It is a name that works on several different levels. Most importantly, it is a good representation of our sound. It’s a phrase that is lyrical, suggestive, cinematic, and filled with immediacy. It has some sense of otherness to it. The concept of space is so overwhelming and all encompassing I doubt there is a song written that doesn’t fall within it.”
- Jared Leto