The Planetary Society and LEGO Team Up to Promote Space Exploration for Youth

Brandweek, Jan 17, 2000

It makes sense in theory. If the current generation of scientists can't get anything from our space program to work on Mars, let's motivate our youth to find a solution. The Planetary Society, a non-profit member-driven organization, has partnered with the kid-friendly LEGO to sponsor a program that will allow junior, high and high school students from around the world participate in a real-life scientific mission in space.

Early in the year 2002, NASA plans on landing a craft called the Mars Surveyor on the planet Mars. Provided that NASA can deliver on their end, The Planetary Society will be administering a cache of bright young student astronauts here on Earth to conduct scientific experiments via a remote-controlled micro-rover named Marie Curie. For the first time in history, students will take part in a planetary exploration mission. To find these intelligent young' student scientists, The Planetary Society and LEGO called upon ESP Video & Graphics in Los Angeles to produce a 10-minute video to promote the program and generate response from students around' the world. To date, 700 copies of the video have been distributed to schools and science centers in a call for applications. The video is supplemented by a CD-ROM that features a proprietary software application that simulates a mission to Mars. Each CD-ROM allows the user to demo the software a maximum of ten times. The video is hosted by Claudette Roche and Star Trek: Voyager star Robert Picardo. In order to appeal to finicky youngsters, the video also employs CG and live action composites, motion graphics, a custom score, and over 30 special effects.