You can be a part of the exploration of outer space!

by William Atkins

Wednesday, 09 April 2008

Page 1 of 2 ! Be a Martian or Saturnian explorer! NASA is holding the “Cassini Scientist for a Day” contest for the exploration of Mars and the “Students Exploring the Red Planet” contest for the exploration of the planet Saturn. Go where no student has gone before! The “Cassini Scientist for a Day” contest will test students to logically and scientifically decide why and where to point the spacecraft’s camera at the vicinity of the planet Saturn during a particular point in the Cassini-Huygens mission. And, NASA is also stimulating young minds with its “Students Exploring the Red Planet,” which allows students to be an active member of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission around Mars. “Cassini Scientist for a Day”: Saturn According to the April 3, 2008 NASA news release, “If you're a student who's ever wondered what it's like to be a NASA scientist, look no further. NASA is giving 5th to 12th grade students the opportunity to study Saturn and make decisions, just as scientists on the Cassini-Huygens mission do on a daily basis.” [NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory: “Want to be a Cassini Scientist for a Day?”] The “Cassini Scientist for a Day” contest allows the winner to control the Cassini spacecraft for about 55 minutes on June 10, 2008. On that day, the Cassini spacecraft is scheduled to observe the Saturnian moons Rhea and Enceladus and a region of Saturn’s rings, including a small moon called Pan. But, first, contestants must explain in 500 words or less which target (one out of three) is best to take images of based on the amount of scientific results possible. Rachel Zimmerman-Brachman, an education and public outreach specialist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, stated, "Students have to do their own research to write their essay. That way, they learn how to ask questions about the solar system and what we still need to understand." [MSNBC Cosmic Log: “Hey, Kids! Join a Space Mission”] The contest is open to all students in the United States between the grades of five and twelve. As with all contests, there is a deadline. Please read more about the contest rules at “Cassini Scientist for a Day.” The second NASA student contest is found on page two. Please read on! << First page <   1 2 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

< Next story in category		Previous story in the category >

Visitors last 30 days Suscribers

904,266 13,751