Jan. 16, 2009

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown{at}nasa.gov

Guy Webster
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-6278
guy.webster{at}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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