Tech Skipper

NASA and Microsoft have launched new website related to MARS exploration. The interesting fact is that any user can do an exploration and perform different activities such as improving maps of the planet which can in turn help scientists to improve their exploration.

“We’re at a point in history where everyone can be an explorer,” Doug McCuistion, director of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, said. “With so much data coming back from Mars missions that are accessible by all, exploring Mars has become a shared human endeavor.
“People worldwide can expand the specialized efforts of a few hundred Mars mission team members and make authentic contributions of their own,” he added.

“The collaboration of thousands of participants could help scientists produce far better maps,” NASA and Microsoft said in a joint statement. – Telegraph
“There’s so much data coming back from Mars. Having a wider crowd look at the data, classify it and help understand its meaning is very important,” said Michelle Viotti, director of Mars Public Outreach at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “We’re also accomplishing something important for NASA.” – Telegraph
“The beauty of this type of experience is that it not only teaches people about Mars and the work NASA is doing there, but it also engages large groups of people to help solve real challenges that computers cannot solve by themselves,” said Marc Mercuri, Microsoft’s director of business innovation.

On the website, you can set your account to get MARS virtual passport 🙂 else you can be a visitor to explore only. You can reach the site by the following URL:

http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov/ 

Have a safe journey to red planet !

Tags: MARS, Microsoft, NASA