We – you, me and every member of The Planetary Society
— are on our way to Mars.
Our “Red Rover Goes to Mars” project launched on
Tuesday with the first Mars Exploration Rover, now
known affectionately as “Spirit.” Bolted to the
spacecraft carrying Spirit is a mini-DVD provided
by The Planetary Society. The DVD contains the
names of 4 million people, including those of
our Society members — and an Astrobot-explorer
named Biff Starling.
Astrobots are representations of robotic LEGO
minifigures suited up for space and appear as
part of the structure that mounts the mini-DVD
onto each spacecraft. Astrobot Biff Starling has
begun transmitting back to Earth diaries of his
adventures for people of all ages to enjoy on
our website.
The Red Rover Goes to Mars project — selected by
NASA as an official part of the Mars Exploration
Rover mission — is the first-ever education
experiment on a planetary exploration mission.
Red Rover Goes to Mars provides hands-on
opportunities for students around the world to
participate directly in a real space mission.
Thank you for helping to support this project.
Your membership dues, donations, as well as
support from the LEGO Company, have made this
privately funded project possible.
With your help we make it happen!
Thank you.
Louis D. Friedman
Executive Director
Read more at:
http: //planetary.org/news/astrobot_launched.html
Read the Astrobot Diaries at:
http: //redrovergoestomars.org/astrobots/
Read about the Red Rover Goes to Mars project at:
http: //redrovergoestomars.org/
Read about the launch at:
http: //planetary.org/news/mer_launch.html
Read about the Mars Exploration Rover mission at:
http: //planetary.org/news/spirit-soars.html
