NASA and Disney have announced a competition for a name for the new Mars

American Aerospace Agency (NASA) and the studio of Walt Disney have announced a competition for a new name for Mars, which is to go to Mars in 2009. Full details are available at the site of the contest, the winner of which will be known in April 2009. 

Name to Mars will be able to offer students of American schools between the ages of 5 to 18 years. Participants should send their name and a short version of the essay, which will explain why Mars should be called so. The deadline for submission of the essay - 25 January 2009. In March 2009, Internet users will be able to vote for the nine selected by a special commission of names. The final choice will also make the Commission in accordance with the wishes of voters. 

The authors of essays published in the finals competition will receive various prizes, one of which will travel at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Jet Propulsion Laboratory - JPL), which is going to Mars. Grand Prix of the competition (aside from the fact that the winning name will be called Mars) - the opportunity to leave your autograph on the board. 

The device, which is called the Mars Science Laboratory, due to be launched to Mars with the help of the launcher Atlas V in autumn 2009. Red Planet Mars will reach the summer of 2010. The unit size of the average SUV-SUV will go on the surface of the planet (including the climb to the hills and down in the lowlands) through a system of six wheels. Planned that it will hold the Red Planet for two years. During this time, Mars, which is a well-equipped mobile laboratory will conduct mineralogical and chemical analysis of Martian soil. One of the objectives of Mars Science Laboratory is the search for organic molecules, which may result from activity of living organisms.