WHAT: Clara Ma, the sixth-grade student from Sunflower Elementary in Lenexa, Kan., who named the next Mars rover “Curiosity,” will meet Mars Science Laboratory team members at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and sign the rover in the clean room where it is being assembled.
Twelve-year-old Clara won a national essay contest and the trip to JPL. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is paying for Ma’s trip and providing “WALL-E” prizes for the 30 semifinalists. All semifinalists have been invited to provide messages to be placed on a microchip mounted on Curiosity. The names of thousands of people from around the world who have “signed” their names online will also be on the microchip. People can still submit their names at: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/ .
Curiosity will be larger and more capable than any craft previously sent to land on the Red Planet. It will check to see whether the environment in a selected landing region has ever been favorable for supporting microbial life and preserving evidence of life.
WHEN: Monday, June 8
11:45 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.: One-on-one interviews with Clara Ma (in front of full-scale rover model on the JPL mall)
1:30 to 2:45 p.m.: Clara signs the rover in the JPL clean room
3:00 to 3:15 p.m.: Clara meets with the entire rover team for a group photo (JPL mall)
WHERE: JPL is located off the Berkshire/Oak Grove Drive exit of the 210 (Foothill) Freeway. Visitor parking is to the left (west) of the JPL main guard gate, across the street from the JPL Visitor Center.
CONTACT: Guy Webster/Alan Buis 818-354-6278/354-0474, at JPL, which manages the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Credentialed news media representatives wishing to attend must RSVP by June 8 at 8 a.m. Non-U.S. citizens must also bring valid passports. More on the mission is at http://www.nasa.gov/msl.
