Explore Mars
Studying Mars' Habitability, Seeking Signs of Past Microbial Life, Collecting and Caching Samples, and Preparing for Future Human Missions. Fly the Copter, Drive the rover and complete the missions!
Educational Points
Explore Mars has multiple science objectives that support NASA's Mars 2020 the science goals:
- Looking for Habitability: Identify past environments capable of supporting microbial life
- Seeking Biosignatures: Seek signs of possible past microbial life in those habitable environments, particularly in special rocks known to preserve signs of life over time
- Caching Samples: Collect core rock and "soil" samples and store them on the Martian surface
User Interaction
A Throttle and Joystick are used to control the Copter and Rover, and Buttons to activate various options.
Throttle
- Up: Move the Copter/Rover forward
- Down: Move the Copter/Rover backwards
Joystick
- 4-Way Directions: Move the joystick around to steer the Rover/Copter
- Trigger: Pull the trigger to activate drll mode or show an overview map
Buttons
- Swap: Swaps between the Rover and Copter
- Reset: Resets Rover/Copter if you get stuck and also functions as a Quit option during missions
User Experience
Visitors are in command of the Copter and Rover in real-time, highly responsive controls to navigate the martian sufrace. They choose where and how to complete the mission.
- Flying The Copter: The Copter is used to scout out sample sites and to help with navigation for the Rover.
- Driving The Rover: Traverse the martian landscape and drill core samples from the various sample sites scattered across the terrain.
Hold Time Data
To be determined
Software Pricing
Hardware Provided
- Keylook License Dongle
- Arduino-Based Control Interface wired to Arcade Quality Buttons, Throttle and Joystick sourced from Suzo-Happ
Recommended Hardware
- 4k or 2k display. Ensure windows display scaling is set to 100%
- Audio: Speakers should be used plugged directly into the computer. Using TV speakers may not work if the computer is on before the TV has been turned on.
Required Computer Specs
- Core i5 Quad Core (or better).
- Motherboard that supports CPU socket.
- Power Supply: 600 Watt (or better).
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 1080 (or better).
- RAM: 16 GB (or greater).
- SSD: 120+ GB.
- OS: Windows 10.