You've visited the NASA Pathfinder site, you've seen all the latest photos from the Sojourner rover. Now you're ready for some fun. Inspired by the recent Pathfinder landing, I searched the Internet for some Mars fun (come make an alien) and games (join in a multi-player space journey). Attention all space cadets, the Internet is calling.
Join Iz and Auggie on this interplanetary multi-player journey to Mars. Chart a course through over a dozen space stations, buying and selling food and gas along the way. The player who lands on Mars with the most money wins. There is a chat component to this game, where you meet other players in the Cyber Swap Room to trade supplies and schmooze. High scores are posted daily, and prizes are awarded monthly. For those of us over eight, Mars or Bust is a winner!
It's your job to put Pathfinder on Mars. But before you press the launch button, here's a hint. Picking the right launch date so that Earth and Mars line-up correctly is important. When was the real Pathfinder launched? You can find the answer by searching this CNN site with the seek button just below the game console. Next, figure out the velocity needed to escape the Earth's gravitational pull. Go ahead, give it a try.
What, no little green men found on Mars? Don't let reality stand in the way of your fun. Put together your own alien with these spare parts. This simple click-and-play is just right for the preschool and kindergarten set.
The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
3D VRML Mars LandscapesMars Lander | Mars MissionVirtual Space Craft |
Or try our newsletter feed.
 Get educational website recommendations in your mailbox every week: Or try our full-content newsletter feed.Our Privacy Pledge: your email address is never shared with anyone. |
Surfnetkids Headline Feed | Newsletter Feed | List of All Surfnetkids Feeds