Launch of the "UK Mars Station Network"March 10, 2004The "UK Mars Station Network" will be launched at the University of Reading on Wednesday 17 March, during National Science Week. The Mars Station concept was developed by the Planetary Society to give everyone - school children and general members of the public alike - the experience of actively exploring an unknown, remote environment via the Internet. A Mars Station comprises a physical simulation of a specific geographical area of Mars. Local and online visitors can explore the simulated Mars landscape by driving a virtual Red Rover around the terrain, while an on-board camera allows them to "see through the eyes of the rover". Visitors to the Mars Station can also be set challenges, such as discovering certain types of rock, retrieving samples, or performing a safe traverse across the terrain. The University of Reading's Red Rover is expected to "land" at the beginning of National Science week (12th -21st March). You can monitor its progress and participate in activities, including a competition to name the rover, at our Website: http://www.robotics.reading.ac.uk During National Science Week, visitors to Reading will be able to join online users to remotely control the Red Rover. One lucky visitor will be able to drive the Rover off its pad onto the "Martian Surface". This is scheduled to happen at 12 noon (GMT) on the 17th March 2004. Other students visiting The University during National Science Week, will get the opportunity to build their own martian landers as part of the 'sciborgs' activity - which allows students from years 7 to 13 to get their hands on high-tech design software and hardware. The UK Mars Station network, comprising Mars Stations at the University of Reading, The National Space Centre (Leicester) and the Glasgow Science Centre, contributes to an international effort, spearheaded by the Planetary Society (http://www.planetary.org), to establish a global network of Mars Stations on Earth. The development of the UK Mars Station Network is funded by Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) under its Public Understanding of Science Small Awards Scheme. Reading, University of |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Science Research Departments
Earth Science Alternative Energy | Anthropology and Archaeology | Earthquakes and Volcanoes | Environment and Nature News | Global Warming | High-Energy and Particle Physics | Ozone Hole | Scientists Slow Light | Tsunami Space Science Astronomy and Space News | Black Holes | Chandra X-Ray Observatory | Extrasolar Planets | Hubble Telescope | International Space Station | Jupiter Galileo Mission | Jupiter Cassini Mission Flyby | Mars Exploration | Mars Odyssey 2001 | Mars Global Surveyor | Mars Polar Lander | Mars Climate Orbiter | Mars Pathfinder | Meteors and Asteroids | Mir Space Station | NEAR Asteroid Probe Mission | Pluto Planet Debate | Search for Extraterrestrial Life | Space Shuttle Program | Space Shuttle Mission: STS-102 | Space Weather Life Science Animal News | Biotechnology and Genetics | Brain Research | Human Cloning | Dinosaur and Fossil Discoveries | Endangered Species | Gene Therapy | Genetically Modified Food | Stem Cell Research | Whales and Whaling |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||