Calling all kids: NASA needs a moniker for its next robotic Mars explorer, and the deadline for a "Name The Rover" contest is midnight Sunday.Partnering with Disney-Pixar's WALL-E, NASA is inviting all U.S. students age 5 to 18 to come up with a name for its Mars Science Laboratory and then pen an essay explaining why their choice is the right fit.
About the size of a SUV, the wheeled rover will be the biggest and most capable spacecraft ever sent to Mars. It will search for signs of past or present microbial life.
NASA's smaller Spirit and Opportunity rovers, which have been exploring opposite sides of the the planet for five years, were named in a similar contest before launching from Cape Canaveral in 2003.
"Now we're doing the same for the next rover that goes up there," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said.
Nine finalists will be selected and then the public will have a chance to rank the names before NASA announces a winner.
The Mars Science Laboratory is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral in 2011. For contest information and rules visit: Name The Rover.
You can also chime in below. Click on "comments" and tell us what you think the rover ought to be named, and why. Red rover, red rover...
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