The Mars 2020 rover is a 2,300-pound (1,040-kilogram) robotic scientist that will search for signs of past microbial life, characterize the planet's climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. 'It is an exciting way to engage with a rover that will likely serve as the first leg of a Mars Sample return campaign, collecting and caching core samples from the Martian surface for scientists here on Earth to study for the first time.' 'This naming contest is a wonderful opportunity for our nation's youth to get involved with NASA's Moon to Mars missions,' said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. The Name the Rover contest is part of NASA's efforts to engage students in the STEM enterprise behind Mars exploration and inspire interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We're asking K-12 students across the United States to send in essays with their best name ideas by Nov. The Mars 2020 Rover is preparing to launch to the Red Planet in July 2020, but it doesn't have a name yet. One grand prize winner will name the rover and be invited to see the spacecraft launch in July 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. public, private and home schools can enter the Mars 2020 Name the Rover essay contest. Click here for more information about the contest.Red rover, red rover, send a name for Mars 2020 right over! NASA is recruiting help from students nationwide to find a name for its next Mars rover mission. NASA will announce the contest winners prior to launching the rovers in the spring of 2003. The contest is open for submissions through January 31, 2003. The contest has many educational benefits and encourages students to do research for their essays and to learn more about Mars and space exploration. Submissions must include suggested names for both rovers and a 50-500 word essay justifying why the students believe their names should be chosen. school and are enrolled in the Fall 2002 school season. The NASA “Name the Rovers” contest is open to students 5 to 18 years of age who attend a U.S. “By involving children actively in the Mars mission through the ‘Name the Rovers’ contest and with other related activities, we hope to help excite and inspire the next generation of space explorers, “ he said. Space exploration also embraces these qualities, which is why the LEGO Company is so pleased to partner with NASA,” said Brad Justus, LEGO Senior Vice President. “The LEGO Company is dedicated to furthering hands-on discovery, playful learning, and the boundless frontiers of imagination.

“We are eagerly looking for some really creative and innovative ideas from the students as they compete to name the next Mars rovers and become part of history.” “We are very excited about providing students with an opportunity to actively participate in the next mission to Mars,” said Dave Lavery, Program Executive for Solar System Exploration at NASA Headquarters. The robotic explorers, part of NASA’s upcoming Mars Exploration Rover ( MER) mission, will land at two different locations on the mysterious Red Planet and explore the surface in search of answers about the history of water on Mars.

The Planetary Society will join LEGO in managing the contest.

NASA announced this week a collaboration with the LEGO Company in this ‘Name the Rovers’ contest for America’s school kids. And that’s only the beginning! It’ll take about six months for each of the two Mars Exploration Rovers to reach the Red Planet, but if you’re the winner of the contest, the names you choose for the Rovers will be part of Space Exploration History forever!

Nasa mars rover contest