The Mars VE CD ROM
Miss Murray and I will never forget the day the boys and girls loaded the Mars VE CD's into their computers and turned out the lights and left the computer volume on. It was as if we were transported into space. They were enthralled and absolutely begged to take them home or to stay longer. They never tired of viewing this CD which we used for several weeks.
We sincerely appreciate the ingenuity and genius that went into making this piece of technology for our children. The world of Mars and Science absolutely exploded into learning and problem solving for our Mission Specialists. Miss Murray and I learned so much and will be forever grateful to the team of specialists that made this CD possible.
Mrs. Rothermich and Miss Murray
Mars VE
The Mars VE CD is a NASA produced product. This CD has five different domes that you can click on to get information. The domes are Planetary Exploration, Experts, Landing Sites, and Mars Information.
In Planetary Exploration, you can find pictures of the planet Mars. You can also look at virtual reality videos. Also you can look at pictures that have been taken by satellites.
In the Experts dome you can ask questions or listen about volcanology or meteorology. The experts will tell you facts about your chosen subject. Each expert will say their name and where they work
The Landing Sites dome shows 3D pictures. You can click the mouse and move around in that certain picture. There are about four different landing sites to look at. On each landing site you will see facts about it.
Mars Information tells interesting facts about Mars. You can even look at the Mars rovers. It also tells about the big red spot on Mars.
By Taylor C.
Mars VE
I think the Mars VE CD is an interesting CD. It is a good CD to look at and learn about Mars. I really liked the 3D pictures. The Mars VE CD has a lot of good information. I learned that Mars is 500 miles across the surface. There is a cool picture of a salt flat in Guerro, Mexico. There is also a model of the Viking Lander on a dust desert. It a picture of it north of the Equator in July 1976. I think this CD was helpful to learn with. NASA should make a CD like this about each planet.
By Darrion R.
The Mars VE CD
The Mars VE CD is a program that tells facts about Mars such as past exploration, present and past visits to the planet, and comments from different scientists about Mars itself and future exploration.
The opening screen of the program shows five colored 3D domes that look like igloos. You can choose the dome you want to explore by clicking on its door. Each dome allows you to explore different things about Mars. One of the domes has a part where you can look at some virtual landscapes of Mars. You can also look for possible landing spots, explore Olympus Mons (which is the largest volcano in our solar system) or view the valley of Valles Marineris and much more. This dome also shows people who have comments and quotes for you to listen to. On another dome, you can view more virtual pictures and movie clips from testing the rovers that have landed. This CD has a lot of information about the Viking missions and other missions to Mars. The Mars VE CD has many graphics and 3D pictures to watch and explore. It is user friendly and the possibilities seem endless as to what you can find out and learn.
I liked that you can look at anything on the screen, click on that image and new information about that item will pop up. I learned a lot about Mars and exploration in space from this program. It was also easy for me to figure out the concepts and areas in the CD the first time I used it. There was nothing that I did not like about this CD. I learned so much and saw so many exciting pictures and clips that there was nothing that I did not totally enjoy about the Mars VE CD.
By Ben D.
Mars VE CD
We have explored the Mars VE (virtual exploration) CD all year. I remember when we all opened up the CD. It was neat to have all of the introductions come on at once. The first links I visited showed the topographical maps on Olympus Mons, Valles Marineris and other features like Schiaparelli Crater.
When you look at it topographically you are on the first or second Mars Viking Lander. You can move from place to place easily. The CD shows every little detail like the rockslides on the West Caudor Chasma, every cove in Valles Marineris and the even show every bump on Olympus Mons. In one section of the CD you can listen to NASA scientists talk about what they do and how it helps other Mars studies. The one section that I didn't enjoy is the one where you just read facts. Other things that you can do are watch short movies on how the pathfinder would roll and work. and also see clips of an underwater habitat.
I have got to say that this CD has the best graphics I have ever seen. It even colors the pictures accurately.
By Chris Nisbet