PARTICIPATORY EXPLORATION: GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION INTO SCIENCE LITERATE CITIZENS THROUGH PARTICIPATORY OPPORTUNITIES IN MARS EXPLORATION

NASA and Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program offers several opportunities for students and the general public to take an active part in the exploration of Mars. The Mars Student Imaging Project (MSIP) has, since 2002, given student teams from grades 5 through early college the opportunity to work with scientists, mission planners and educators at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Facility. MSIP participants are involved in authentic Mars research by imaging and researching a site on Mars using the THEMIS visible wavelength camera onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Students can participate one of three ways: on-site at ASU, through distance learning and using archived THEMIS images.

The Mars Public Mapping Project ((MP)²⁾ is a web-based education and public engagement activity developed by the Mars Space Flight Facility at ASU. This on-line tool engages members of the general public to help explore the surface of Mars. The (MP)² tool allows interested individuals or groups to become knowledgeable about surface features and mapping them using the tool and program steps, thus contributing mapping data to scientists working to identify and map geologic features on Mars. The site uses images of the Martian surface taken in visible light by the THEMIS camera.

Rock Around the World was introduced in 2004 during the Mars Exploration Rover mission. The premise was to build upon the Earth-based mineral library at ASU and be able to compare the spectra from this research library to the spectra received from the rocks on Mars. To date, 11,540 rocks have been sent in to the Mars Space Flight Facility at ASU. Rocks have been received from every continent and most of the senders have been children. The participants in this program have their rock analyzed by ASU Thermal Infrared Spectroscopy Laboratory that is then linked to the ASU Mars Thermal Mineral Library. Each participant receives their own link to the Rock Around the World Program to see the results of their contribution

NASA and the ASU Mars Program have partnered with mission teams and Mars PIs to develop ongoing opportunities for students and the general public to become active participants in Mars missions. By enabling Mars exploration to be participatory by design, it is our vision to help the next generation desire to become partners in our ongoing journey to the Red Planet.