Jan 16, 2009

Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne c brown@nasa gov

Guy Webster Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif 818-354-6278 guy webster@jpl nasa gov

RELEASE: 09-012

DEADLINE NEARS FOR STUDENT CONTEST TO NAME NASA'S NEXT MARS ROVER

WASHINGTON -- NASA is issuing a last call to the nation's youth for entries in a contest to name the agency's next Mars rover

The naming contest, in partnership with Disney-Pixar's WALL-E, invites ideas from students 5 to 18 years old and enrolled in a U S school The contest began two months ago Entries will be accepted until midnight Jan 25

Entrants should submit essays explaining why their suggested name for the rover is the right fit In March, the public will have an opportunity to rank nine finalist names via the Internet as additional input for judges to consider In April, NASA will announce the winning name

The Mars Science Laboratory rover will be larger and more capable than any craft previously sent to land on the Red Planet The rover will check to see whether the environment in a selected landing region ever has been favorable for supporting microbial life and preserving evidence of life The rover also will search for minerals that formed in the presence of water and look for several chemical building blocks of life NASA is currently building and testing the rover, which will launch in 2011

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif , manages the Mars Science Lab for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington

For contest information and rules visit:

http://marsrovername jpl nasa gov

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