Become a Martian!

[dlavery]

NASA AND MICROSOFT ALLOW EARTHLINGS TO BECOME MARTIANS

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA and Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., have collaborated to create a Web site for Internet users to advance their knowledge about Mars while having fun at the same time.

Drawing on observations from NASA Mars missions, the "Be a Martian" Web site will enable the public to participate as citizen scientists to improve Martian maps, directly participate in research tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet.

"We're at a point in history where everyone can be an explorer," said Doug McCuistion, director of NASA's Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "With so much data coming back from Mars missions that are accessible by all, exploring Mars has become a shared human endeavor. People worldwide can expand the specialized efforts of a few hundred Mars mission team members and make authentic contributions of their own."

Participants will be able to explore details of the solar system's grandest canyon, one that resides on Mars. Users can call up images in Mars' Valles Marineris canyon lands before moving on to chart the entire Red Planet. The collaboration of thousands of participants could assist scientists in producing far better maps, smoother zoom-in views, and make for easier interpretation of Martian surface changes.

By counting craters, the public also may help scientists determine the relative ages of small regions on Mars. In the past, counting craters on Mars has posed a challenge because of the vast numbers involved. By contributing, Web site users will win game points assigned to a robotic animal avatar they select.

With a common goal of inspiring digital-age workforce development and life-long learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, NASA and Microsoft unveiled the Web site at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles this week. The site also beckons software developers to win prizes for creating tools that provide access and analysis of hundreds of thousands of Mars images for online, classroom and Mars mission team use.

"Industry leaders like NASA and Microsoft have a social responsibility as well as a vested interest in advancing science and technology education," said Walid Abu-Hadba, corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. "We are excited to be working with NASA to provide new opportunities to engage with Mars mission data, and to help spark interest and excitement among the next generation of scientists and technologists."

To encourage more public participation, the site also provides a virtual town hall forum where users can expand their knowledge by proposing Mars questions and voting on which are the most interesting to the community. Online talks by Mars experts will address some of the submitted questions. Other features include interactive tools for viewing Martian regions and movies about people who study Mars in diverse ways.

"Mars exploration inspires people of all ages, and we are especially eager to encourage young people to explore Mars for themselves. We are delighted to be involved in providing the creative opportunity for future explorers to contribute to our understanding of Mars," said Charles Elachi, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

"The beauty of this type of experience is that it not only teaches people about Mars and the work NASA is doing there, but it also engages large groups of people to help solve real challenges that computers cannot solve by themselves," said Marc Mercuri, director of business innovation in the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft.

The Mars Exploration Program is managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

To enroll as a virtual Martian citizen and start exploring, visit:

http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov

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Thought some of you might be interested. This new project will allow every citizen to actively participate in real Mars science and data analysis while using a fun, game-style interface. I'm already signed up!

-dave



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[IndySam]

I already though Lavery was a Martian.

[JesseK]

Looks like a good way to kill some time in the down time.

I wonder how robots that fly through the duststorms will hold up?

[JaneYoung]

Haha! I forwarded the link to our lead teacher and coach, Mr. Bertucci. He sent it to the team with the statement, "AFTER you have FINISHED your homework!"

This is good stuff. Thank you!
Jane

[GaryVoshol]

FIRST already has 494 Martians, plus 70 more.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

FIRST already has 494 Martians, plus 70 more.

ChiefDelphi needs a 'like' button.

Excellent. Another procrastination tool And one that will be productive, too! Thank you NASA [: