You Can Be a Martian

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:44:00 GMT

Microsoft and NASA have teamed together to create Be a Martian, a new website where you can help contribute to our understanding of Mars. By participating in the site—which largely consists of combing through the vast quantity of Mars images and classifying them, as well as participating in surveys and discussions—you can earn badges and "Reputation Points". But more importantly, you can help our understanding of our red neighbor... the knowledge you help provide may give some indication of where to look for microbial life, past or present. It may help find suitable locations for manned missions or even long-term colonies.

I haven't had a chance to do much other than view a few videos so far, but it looks very interesting, and I've bookmarked it so I can return this weekend and spend some time contributing to Getting There (in this case, Mars) From Here.

A lot of time, you may feel like there's not much you can do personally to help push forward progress toward colonizing other worlds (and, eventually, colonizing the galaxy). But here is your chance, and it's something anybody can do. So what are you waiting for?

Colonizing Mars

You Can Be a Martian