mars project
Indian Planetary Society to screen names for mars project
MUMBAI, Jan 3/2004: Mumbai-based Indian Planetary Society (IPS) has been selected as the national coordinator by its US counterpart for the Red Rover Goes To Mars (RRGTM) project.
Joint initiative of the US Planetary Society, Lego Co and NASA, the project will allow children to play an integral, hands-on role in the NASA’s upcoming mars exploration rover 2003 mission set to explore the neighbouring planet in early 2004.
The IPS, headed by noted astronomer and former Director of the Nehru Planetarium here Dr J J Rawal, has been entrusted by the US bodies to select students for the project.
The RRGTM provides an exciting opportunity for students to participate in a Robotics Planetary Exploration Cission. To be selected for this, students born between September 1986-1990 have to enter into a worldwide astronaut on NASA’s mars exploration rover mission contest.
Dr Rawal said that in order to qualify for the RRGTM, a student will have to write an essay of around 1,500 words which should be submitted by this month-end. "It is an imaginative work," he said and added that students will have to imagine themselves as a scientist working on mars exploration rover mission.
The aspirants will have to explain in their essays as to how they would use the mars exploration rover over two martian days to explore one of the places on mars that has been visited before by Viking 1. The plan must include moving the rover, positioning the rover’s robotics arm, and taking measurements and images with its cameras and instruments.
"We expect at least 10,000 essays," he said adding that then the 100 shortlisted students will be called for presentations. "Based on the presentation we will select around four students who will be interviewed by the US organisations for final selection," he said.
Dr Rawal further said that under the project few students will be selected across the globe and they will actually work with NASA’s scientists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA, for the mars exploration programme. (UNI)
MUMBAI, Jan 3/2004: Mumbai-based Indian Planetary Society (IPS) has been selected as the national coordinator by its US counterpart for the Red Rover Goes To Mars (RRGTM) project.
Joint initiative of the US Planetary Society, Lego Co and NASA, the project will allow children to play an integral, hands-on role in the NASA’s upcoming mars exploration rover 2003 mission set to explore the neighbouring planet in early 2004.
The IPS, headed by noted astronomer and former Director of the Nehru Planetarium here Dr J J Rawal, has been entrusted by the US bodies to select students for the project.
The RRGTM provides an exciting opportunity for students to participate in a Robotics Planetary Exploration Cission. To be selected for this, students born between September 1986-1990 have to enter into a worldwide astronaut on NASA’s mars exploration rover mission contest.
Dr Rawal said that in order to qualify for the RRGTM, a student will have to write an essay of around 1,500 words which should be submitted by this month-end. "It is an imaginative work," he said and added that students will have to imagine themselves as a scientist working on mars exploration rover mission.
The aspirants will have to explain in their essays as to how they would use the mars exploration rover over two martian days to explore one of the places on mars that has been visited before by Viking 1. The plan must include moving the rover, positioning the rover’s robotics arm, and taking measurements and images with its cameras and instruments.
"We expect at least 10,000 essays," he said adding that then the 100 shortlisted students will be called for presentations. "Based on the presentation we will select around four students who will be interviewed by the US organisations for final selection," he said.
Dr Rawal further said that under the project few students will be selected across the globe and they will actually work with NASA’s scientists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA, for the mars exploration programme. (UNI)
Comments