Disclaimer: I have no relationship with NASA, nor was I asked to promote this contest. This blog post was written based on my own understanding from reading the contest website rules and instructions.

In case you missed it, NASA is doing a ‘Name the Mars 2020 Rover’ challenge contest for kids in grades K through 12th grades. The child must also be a student within the United States to enter (this includes public, private and home school students). Students will select a rover name and write a short (150 words or less) essay to explain their reason for selecting the name they chose.

According to the contest website, this rover will “seek signs of past microbial life, collect surface samples… and test technologies to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere to prepare for future human missions.”

What’s at stake for the winner? The grand prize winner will win a trip for 4 to watch the launch of the rover into space! How amazing is that? The runner up and the next top 3 in each age group (grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12) will win various STEM prize packages.

Even if your kids aren’t old enough to enter or do not wish to enter, there are TONS of great resources on their website for kids (and adults) to learn more about the Rover, its capabilities and Mars.

Check out the following websites for more information on contest rules, how to enter and learning resources:

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/participate/name-the-rover/

https://www.futureengineers.org/nametherover

-Kristen