As robotic rovers begin to explore the Martian terrain in January 2004, the Exploratorium offers zany and substantive special weekend events designed to bring the distant red planet and the science and art of Mars exploration to light for everyone here on Earth. All events are free with museum admission. Journey to Mars is made possible through the generosity of the Jim Clark Endowment for Internet Education, the National Science Foundation, and the McBean Family Foundation. Web technology made possible by Macromedia.

The programs are as follows:

Saturday, January 3
Egg Landing
Skylight Area, noon - 2pm

How do you park on Mars? This month’s rover landing is a delicate affair, one that scientists and engineers have spent years perfecting. On the eve of Spirit’s touchdown, perfect your own space landing here with our egg drop challenge! Engineer a simple contraption that can keep an egg, launched from 15 feet and higher, from breaking as it lands. Senior Scientist Paul Doherty will reveal the science behind the both the egg and the rover landings. Eggs and building supplies will be provided. For age groups 7 & up. Adults welcome.

Sunday, January 11
Classic Space Animation -- A Trip to the Moon
With live music accompaniment by Nik Phelps
McBean Theater, 3pm

OK, it isn’t Mars, but A Trip to the Moon (1903, 10 min.) by George Melies is one of the first animated films to depict human space travel. This classic film captures the spirit of human ingenuity and desire for exploration. San Francisco composer and musician Nik Phelps performs an original score. Other short films TBA.

Journey to Mars Film Program
January 11th and 25th, at 3pm
Spirit and Opportunity are scheduled to land on the red planet early in January 2004, each on opposite sides of Mars, and begin their exploration of the Martian terrain. Their stereo and panoramic cameras will send back some of the best images ever taken of our nearest neighbor. As part of Journey to Mars, a month-long investigation of the red planet, the Exploratorium presents not only these images from Mars, but filmic explorations of space travel from popular culture. These films are included in the price of admission.

Saturday, January 17
Biomotion: Dr. Robert Full and UC Berkeley’s PolyPEDAL Lab
Discussion and Robot Presentation
McBean Theater, 2pm. Live Webcast at 3:30pm

Forget the wheeling, wheezing robots of old. Witness a new breed of robots that can glide over walls and obstacles with the ease of a cockroach. Dr. Robert Full gives a look behind UC Berkeley’s PolyPEDAL lab, a hotbed of Bay Area robotics innovation. Merging biomechanics and comparative physiology, PolyPEDAL robots can move like insects and other multi-legged crawlers. These invertible, reflexed, self-adjusting robo-critters are so agile that they’re being considered for future Mars missions. Here’s your chance to see them first on Earth.

Physics of Toys: Toys on Mars!
Skylight Area, noon - 4pm
Physics of Toys embarks with NASA on a voyage of discovery this month. Our mission: explore what toys can tell us about the wild and wooly terrain of Mars. Join the Physics of Toys team to build robots, make a volcano, study water, and much more!

Sunday, January 18
F.I.R.S.T LEGO League Robot Missions
noon – 4pm

A Mars-bot made of Legos? Visitors will get to see these Lego robots and their school-aged inventors — in action. Watch the robots as they complete mini-missions such as collecting samples and navigating dunes and craters on a simulated Mars playing field. Winners from the regional F.I.R.S.T. Lego League competition unveil their Mars robots, as well as the science, prototypes, and blueprints behind making them. "F.I.R.S.T." is an acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology," the name of an organization that motivates young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering.

Sunday, January 25
Mars Cartooning Workshop
noon, 1pm, & 2pm

Draw yourself a rocket and blast off into an imaginative journey to Mars. The Exploratorium joins forces with the Cartoon Art Museum to present a cartooning workshop on Martian life — as envisioned by you. Learn basic cartooning techniques and fun exercises that engage your imagination. Professional cartoonists Jon "Bean" Hastings and Paige Braddock will be on hand to teach visitors how to cartoon. Classes are on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited. For ages 7 and up. Adults welcome.

Classic Cartoons: Duck Dodgers in the 24th-and-a-Half-Century
McBean Theater, 3:00pm

What happens when our favorite childhood cast of characters, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester and friends find themselves exploring the outer reaches of the universe? Reminisce with out-of-this-world gems from another era. Duck Dodgers in the 24th-and-a-Half-Century features Daffy Duck and Marvin Martian in battle over ownership of Mars in this classic 1953 Chuck Jones cartoon.