Frequently asked questions

What is the Going to Mars campaign?

Using innovative online tools, the Going to Mars campaign will allow members of the general public to participate in the mission and “go to Mars” with the MAVEN spacecraft.

Why is the Going to Mars campaign being offered?

The MAVEN team wants to share our excitement about the mission and space exploration with you! This project is open to people all over the world.

What is MAVEN Education & Public Outreach?

The MAVEN “E/PO” program is an exciting suite of activities to share the mission with a range of audiences. We are aligned with the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s goals for E/PO. Learn more about MAVEN E/PO.

Who can submit a name and where will it go?

Anybody on planet Earth is welcome to participate! However, to create a log-in you must be 18 or older. If you are under 18 and you would like to enter, please ask your parent or teacher for help.

Your name will be written to a DVD and sent into Mars orbit on the MAVEN spacecraft.

What is the Message to Mars contest?

Craft your own original message to Mars! Messages, which must be in the form of a haiku poem, will be voted on by the public; the top three most popular entries will be sent to Mars onboard the MAVEN spacecraft and will be prominently displayed on the MAVEN website.

Messages must be in English. If you win and if English is not your first language, you will have the option of providing a translation for inclusion on the DVD.

How do I submit my name and message?

Enter the contest!

Will my name be made public after submission?

Your name will be burned to a DVD for inclusion on the spacecraft, and you will have the option of printing out a Certificate of Participation. Your name will not be made public.

Do I have to submit both my name and a message?

No. You can submit either your name, a message, or both.

What language can my message be in?

Your message must be in English. If you win and if English is not your first language, you will have the option of providing a translation into your native tongue.

Does my message have to be in a specific format?

Yes! Your message needs to be in the form of a haiku poem. For the MAVEN contest, we are defining a haiku as a poem made of three lines; the first and last lines must have exactly five syllables each and the middle line must have exactly seven syllables. Here is an example:

Mars mysterious
Thin sky and water-lined face?
MAVEN on its way.

I made a mistake with the wording of my message. Can I revise it?

Yes! Please delete your entry and enter a new one.

Can I have more than one message?

No. Only one message per person is allowed.

I am an educator and I would like to make this a class project, but the system won’t let me upload all the messages under my name. Can you help?

Yes! Please contact us and let us know that you are an educator. We will assist you with participating.

When I send my message URL to friends, they can’t view it. Why?

Before public voting begins, only you can access your unique URL by logging into your account. Once the voting opens, your friends will be able to see your message and vote on it. If public voting is open and you’re still having trouble, make sure you send out the correct URL. Contact us if you are still having trouble.

How can I get enough votes to win the message contest?

Get out the vote! Tell your friends and family about your entry, send the link out on Twitter (use the hashtag #GoToMars), let your friends know about your entry on Facebook—be creative in spreading the word!

How will the contest winners be determined?

The contest winner will be determined by public vote via our online interface. We sort entries by “Bayesian posterior mean,” which gives more weight to entries that have received a greater number of votes. For example, an entry with an average rating of 5 stars from only 2 votes cannot beat an entry with an average rating of 4.8 stars from 300 votes. For your best chance at winning, encourage all of your friends and family—as many people as possible—to vote a “5” on your entry!

Can I flag names/messages that I think are inappropriate?

Yes! We encourage you to help us flag inappropriate content.

My name/message has been flagged/removed unfairly. What can I do?

Please contact us with your unique URL and explain that you think your name/message was flagged unfairly. We do reserve the right to remove submissions from the site without consent.

I lost my Certificate of Participation. Can I print it out again?

Yes! After logging in, click on “My account” near the top of the page; follow the instructions to view or print your Certificate of Participation.

Who can I contact if I have trouble or if I have questions?

Please contact us.

Questions about the student art contest

[+] Show questions

What is the MAVEN student art contest?: Design artwork about Mars using our sample file. Limit one design per child/student.
Who chooses the winning art?: You do! The contest is open to public voting on this site. Tell your friends and family to vote for your art! (Each person can vote once per design.)
Is there a prize for winning the student art contest?: Your art will be used on the DVD label that will fly to Mars on the MAVEN spacecraft. It will also be saved on the DVD.
Who can enter the student art contest?: If you are age 5 to 17, please enter! However; only your parent or teacher can submit your art to the contest.
Can I have words on my art?: The words, “I’m going to Mars with MAVEN!” must be on your art. No other words or equivalent can be on your design.
How can I enter the student art contest?: The contest is closed. Fore more information, please see the contest rules.
I made a mistake on my design. Can I submit a new one?: Since the contest is now closed, you may not submit a new design.
Can I have more than one design?: No. Only one design per child/student is allowed.
I am an educator and I would like to make this a class project, but the system won’t let me upload all the designs under my name. Can you help?: Yes! Please contact us and let us know that you are an educator. We will assist you with participating.
When I send my design URL to friends, they can’t view it. Why?: Before public voting begins, only your parent or teacher can access your unique URL by logging into his/her account. Once the voting opens, your friends will be able to see your design and vote on it. If public voting is open and you’re still having trouble, make sure you send out the correct URL. Contact us if you are still having trouble.
How can I get enough votes to win the student art contest?: Get out the vote! Tell your friends and family about your entry, send the link out on Twitter (use the hashtag #GoToMars), let your friends know about your entry on Facebook—be creative in spreading the word!
How will the contest winners be determined?: The contest winner will be determined by public vote via our online interface. We sort entries by “Bayesian posterior mean,” which gives more weight to entries that have received a greater number of votes. For example, an entry with an average rating of 5 stars from only 2 votes cannot beat an entry with an average rating of 4.8 stars from 300 votes. For your best chance at winning, encourage all of your friends and family—as many people as possible—to vote a “5” on your entry!
Can I flag art that I think is inappropriate?: Yes! Please help us flag inappropriate content.
My art has been flagged/removed unfairly. What can I do?: Please contact us with your unique design URL and explain that you think your art was flagged unfairly. We do reserve the right to remove submissions from the site without consent.
How do I scan and upload my design?: Each scanner is unique. Please follow your scanner manual for specific instructions.

Student art contest timeline

Send your name & message to Mars activity timeline

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the student art contest