Pathways To Space Project
Mars has come to Sydney, in a unique project that brings school students and scientists together in a simulated mission to the red planet at the Powerhouse Museum.
The real Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, are partly powered by diamond-based computer chips made in Sydney. The Sydney experimental rovers, worth about $250,000 combined, are very down to earth.
Her research on the rovers could also have applications in agriculture and mining or wherever robots are used.
Thousands of year 10 to 12 students will have access to the Pathways to Space project. They will learn how to select a landing site on Mars and control a virtual rover as it looks for signs of life.
They can talk to astrobiologists and engineers in Australia and overseas and drive a rover through the Mars-like public exhibit.
The federal Innovation Minister, Kim Carr, launched the project yesterday. The government gave the project a grant of $1 million. Senator Carr said he hoped it would inspire young people to see their future in the stars.
”We’ve all looked at the night sky in wonder. It’s their generation that will bring with it new understandings.”