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MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109.  TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

Veronica McGregor  (818) 354-9452
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

News Release: 2003-017                                                
                  February 13, 2003

Roll with the Rovers and 'Explore Mars'

NASA hosts "Explore Mars!" -- a Cape Canaveral-area community and
family day focusing on the upcoming Mars Exploration Rover mission, on
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Radisson Resort at the Port Convention
Center, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Students and the general public will learn about Florida's key role as
NASA's "Gateway to Mars," and meet with scientists, engineers,
educators and others working on Mars exploration missions.  Children
of all ages are invited to playtime with working robot rovers.

The Mars Exploration Rovers, described as two robot geologists, are
being prepared for launch this spring aboard Boeing Delta II rockets
from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and are due to land on and
start exploring Mars in January 2004.  Once on Mars, they will
communicate with controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, Calif., where the rovers were built.

For more information or to schedule a speaker to talk to your school
or community about Mars Exploration, contact the NASA Jet Propulsion
Laboratory Resident Office at Kennedy Space Center at 321/867-3731.

See the Mars Exploration Program Web site at
http://www.mars.jpl.nasa.gov
http://jpl.convio.net/site/R?i=wCxe1OdHE81O-3BCLCXxIg...

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