We are in the midst of a decade of Mars exploration which is providing insights into the past, present, and future not only of Mars, but of our own planet Earth. As we explore the Red Planet, we are dazzled by its polar ice caps, sprawling extinct volcanoes, vast meteorite craters, and huge canyons. Each area makes comparisons between Mars and Earth, giving visitors a sense of Mars as a real place. Sixteen hands-on interactive devices, five computer stations, and seven models invite visitors to play the part of explorers. They can experiment with collage puzzles to learn how scientists assemble larger planetary views from many small images.
Visitors can build model landscapes and use a laser altimeter to create a three-dimensional image.
Ned Kahn's large-scale Volcano and two smaller versions allow visitors to create shield volcanoes with flow channels. Visitors can also access current information on recent discoveries about Mars. Comprehensive educational materials, a teacher workshop, and a staff training program are also included. The Space Science Institute of Boulder, Colorado, developed the MarsQuest exhibition with major funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Additional support was provided by Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, and CBS Corporation.