Name NASA's Mars 2020 Rover Contest Overview

Name NASA’s Mars 2020 Rover

Contest Overview Mars Public Engagement OVERVIEW Name NASA’s Mars 2020 Rover

Who Can Enter? Nationwide contest open to students K-12. Open to US residents ages 5-18 years old or registered in a US school operated by the US for children of American military personnel

Legacy: All previous Mars rovers have been named by a student

• 1997 Sojourner Rover – Named by Valerie Ambroise, 12, of Bridgeport, CT (6th grade) • 2003 Spirt and Opportunity – Named by Sofi Collis, 9, Scottsdale, AZ (3rd grade) • 2012 Curiosity Rover – Named by Clara Ma, 11, Lenexa, KS (6th grade)

2 PROCESS OVERVIEW Leveraging Private Sector to Support Activity

Process • JPL helps runs selection process for NASA HQ

• Partner helps us down select from thousands of essays to top 30

• NASA HQ/JPL down-selects from 30 to top 9 essays (with mission team participation)

• Public Poll (using social media and websites) to get public input on top 9 names

• Will conduct video interviews with finalists

• Final essays/names go to NASA HQ for final selection

3 AUDIENCES Reach traditional and non-traditional audiences

• Teachers

• Students K-12

• Families and general public at large

• Media

• Social media users/influencers

• NASA Networks: Space Grant, Solar System Ambassadors, Night Sky Network, Saturn Observation Campaign, Cassini Scientist for a Day, Museum Alliance, Flint Wild NASA Express

4 HOW SPACE GRANT INSTITUTIONS CAN HELP Reach out and recruit

1. Publicize opening of rover naming contest and milestones such as contest close, public poll and final name, among partner institutions and networks • Helpful to have a POC for each Consortium • POC passes along info via social channels, newsletters, websites

2. Help recruit interested, dedicated people to judge the entries • Share the opportunity widely among diverse groups

3. Recognize winners per state for each of 3 age groups