The fact that we as a species landed a mobile chemistry lab on a Mars called the Curiosity Rover was one of the biggest news stories of the decade. In honor of the Curiosity Rover, a Los Angeles-based team called The Desert Wizards of Mars is building an earthbound replica to debut at the Burning Man 2013 festival, with a little help from the Kickstarter community.
The replica Curiosity Rover will be loaded with lots of technical goodies like GPS, a weather station and a remote camera. It'll also have a camp stove for those scientific camping trips. Once Burning Man is over, the replica which comfortably seats eight people will be used to tour schools to be used an educational tool.
The project is 100 percent citizen funded, and has no affiliation with NASA or other government funded science agencies.
Road-Ready Mars Rovers
This Amazing Earthbound Replica of the Curiosity Rover is for Science
Trend Themes
1. Replica Mars Rovers - The development of earthbound replicas of Mars rovers presents opportunities for educational and entertainment purposes.
2. Crowdfunding for Science Projects - The use of Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms to finance scientific projects enables greater community involvement and support.
3. Mobile Science Labs - The integration of advanced technologies, such as GPS, weather stations, and remote cameras, into mobile scientific vehicles opens up possibilities for data collection in various environments.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Replica Mars rovers can be utilized as interactive educational tools in schools, offering hands-on learning experiences.
2. Crowdfunding - Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter provide disruptive opportunities to fund scientific projects without relying on traditional government or institutional funding.
3. Technology - The development of advanced features in earthbound replicas of Mars rovers drives innovation in GPS, weather tracking, and remote camera technologies.