You can be a part of Mars exploration!
NASA is inviting people worldwide to vote on their favorite names for the Mars Science Laboratory mission rover. Since late last year, NASA has been holding a contest to collect student essays suggesting possible names for the rover. They have been collected and collated, and the top nine suggestions are now being submitted for a public poll to determine the favorite.
To view the choices and log your vote, go to http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/PublicPoll/. While there, you can also send your name to Mars by signing up to have your name engraved on a microchip that will be flown aboard the spacecraft when it launches in 2011.
Voting takes place March 23-29, 2009 and the winning name will be announced in April/May.
-dave
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