Robotic Mission to Mars

Conduct your own scientific investigation of Mars using VSSEC’s
Mars Autonomous Science Laboratory (MASL)

*Now Trialling*
Schools interested in participating in the trials should contact VSSEC

The VSSEC Robotic Mission to Mars will allow students to remotely control a real rover on the VSSEC Mars surface. After completing a pre-mission training program and site selection activity, students will take on the roles of scientists and engineers in Mission Control to complete a mission and collect data for further analysis. This program is a collaboration between VSSEC, The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) at Sydney University, Monash University, School of Geoscience, and the ACRI Games Technology Lab at La Trobe University. The online nature of the program allows remote schools and students to have access to this exciting technology.

Underpinned by extensive pre and post-mission material that can be embedded into the curriculum, students test the robot’s performance capabilities, undertake a construction activity, and plan their mission, selecting the most appropriate route and comparing the scientific value of the site visited against the energy budget and available time. Path finding software allows students to determine the best path while avoiding major obstacles.

This mission can be accessed remotely via the internet or conducted as part of a full day program at VSSEC. Students conducting the mission at VSSEC will also take part in a hands-on laboratory session investigating materials, power, spectroscopy and mechanics.

School-based Mission

Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm (local time Melbourne, Australia)
Min students per mission: 12          Max students per mission: 24
Cost: $250 per class plus GST (Australia); $450 per class plus GST (International). Includes pre-mission training program and on-line mission.

VSSEC-based Program

Time: 9:00pm – 3:00pm
Min students per mission: 12          Max students per mission: 24
Cost: $30 per student plus GST (Victoria); $50 per student plus GST (Interstate); $100 per student plus GST (International). Includes pre-mission training program, lunch, all materials used during the program and on-line mission.

Book a FREE Engineer for your classroom

VSSEC and Engineers Australia have come together to provide passionate engineering mentors to work with students during their mission preparation.

The Engineers in Schools Program was established by Engineers Australia, to help students and teachers discover what a career in engineering can offer by bringing professional engineers together with students in the classroom. To ensure students and teachers get the maximum benefit from this program, VSSEC and Engineers Australia, have joined forces to combine passionate engineers and best practice in science education. VSSEC has trained the engineers in strategies for effective science teaching and how to demonstrate the principles of engineering using the pre-mission activities from VSSEC’s Mission to Mars, MOSL, and Robotic Mission to Mars programs. We encourage you to  take advantage of this program and book an engineer when you book your mission.

Download a flyer or contact Sandra Perrett at Engineers Australia to request an engineer 9321 1725 or SPerrett@engineersaustralia.org.au