Mars Exploration Zone Map Design Competition

Publish Date: May 12, 2016

Deadline: Sep 01, 2016

2035 marks the target date for the first human landing on Mars as planned by NASA.

In 2015, 47 landing sites or Exploration Zones, each 200 km in diameter, have been proposed by the planetary science community. These should be mapped in high detail in the forthcoming years to enable proper comparison of the 47 sites and the selection of the 1 finalist.

The project is to select one candidate landing site and design an actual map that you envision will be useful in surface operations. You are asked to not simply create a geologic map, but rather a product that can be used by the astronauts during their approximately one-year long mission within the Exploration Zone. This requires creativity, and it is also useful to have a good knowledge of surface features, surface hazards, science goals and the use of the proper cartographic tools.

Categories

There are two main categories:

Middle or High School Students
University students and Young Professionals (age limit: 18-35 years old)

Entry

The display and format of the maps entirely up to the participants. All submitted maps must be accompanied by a short paper (in the English language). There is no entry fee.

Prize

Winning maps from each division will receive the following prizes:

Middle or High School Students

The winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd prize and honorable mentions) get a certificate, and their maps will be sent to the principal investigators of their chosen Exploration Zone. Winners in this category will also receive global planetary geologic maps or children’s planetary maps (of their choice). The papers of the winners will be considered for publication at the 2017 International Cartographic Conference. In this category we encourage collaboration; there is no limit to how many participants are in a middle or high school student group.

University students and Young Professionals

The winner (1st prize) of this category will be invited to the 2017 International Cartographic Conference (July 2-7, 2017) where their costs, including travel to the conference, will be covered. The winner will receive their award at a Washington, DC ceremony (a VISA may be required for foreign nationals to enter the USA).

Eligibility

This call is open to students, cartographers, and graphic artists from all countries.

What is your task?

We call students, professional cartographers, and graphic artists to map one of the EZs, or a part of it. These candidate EZs have not been mapped in detail, this work begins now, in 2016. Mapping and studying them will help NASA to choose the landing site of the first human expedition to Mars. While scientists map the surface to study its geology, the applicants should map it from the perspective of the astronauts. Our goal is to develop maps that could ultimately be used by the astronauts during their daily field works.

Technology can change a lot between now and the 2030s. The field maps will most likely be digital dynamic maps, shown on display, VR glasses, projected onto the helmet or made visible by a yet-to-discover technology. We can’t know the future mapping technology so what we ask is to make a map that you would find it useful to orient yourself in the chosen EZ, document future plans and already visited sites, mark the locations of the landmarks and habitat units.

What should be on the map?

The map may contain a complete EZ, or just a part of it for more detailed exploration. You chose the actual design of the map.

Important dates

September 1, 2016– Deadline of submission of maps and papers. Submission can be electronic or paper (paper submissions must arrive at NASA Ames Center in California no later than September 15, 2016).

October 1, 2016 – Notification of winners of this competition

October 26, 2016  – Submission of Abstract and Papers to ICC2017 (open to all award winners)

January 10, 2017 – Notification of acceptance of the papers

January 31, 2017 – Submission of Final Manuscripts to ICC2017

February 16, 2017 – Conference Registration for Presenters/Authors

April 2017 – 2nd NASA Workshop for Landing Sites for Human Missions to the Surface of Mars

July 2–7, 2017 ICC 2017

Submission Information

Digital format: send digital files to planetarymap@gmail.com.

Paper format (by mail):

Send to:

Henrik I Hargitai
NASA Ames Research Center
MS 239-20
Moffett Field, CA 94035
USA

Submissions should include the followings:

  • Name(s) of map authors,
  • Category (Middle/High School Student; University Student or Young Professional)
  • Corresponding mailing address,
  • Corresponding email address,
  • Your age or the ages of your group members
  • Affiliation(s)  (school or workplace),
  • The map,
  • The short paper (description of the map, and its production process).
    • Length:
      • 2-3 pages (A4 or Letter) for the middle to high school student group
      • 6-8 pages (A4 or Letter) for the university student/young professional group,
      • with small figures and references
    • This paper may be changed later for the Conference submission but is absolutely required in the competition.

Complete maps copied directly without alteration from existing works will be considered plagiarisms and will be excluded from the contest. 


This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

https://planetcarto.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/mars-exploration-zone-map-competition/

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