Explore Mars with the Rover Curiosity in New NASA Simulators

Want to explore Mars? You may be able to with some new NASA simulations. The space agency has released two new online tools that will open the mysterious terrain of the Red planet to a new generation of explorers, and allow the public to help with the journey to Mars.

The first of the applications is called Mars Trek. This is a free, web-based application that provides high-quality, detailed visualizations of the planet using real data from 60 years of NASA exploration. It also allows astronomers, citizen scientists and students to study the Red planet's features.

The second release is called Experience Curiosity. This simulation allows viewers to journey along with the Mars rover Curiosity on its Martian expedition. The program simulates Mars in 3D based on actual data from Curiosity and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). This allows users to get a first-hand experience in a day in the life of a Mars rover.

Already, NASA is using Mars Trek to aid in the selection of possible landing sites for the agency's Mars 2020 rover. In addition, the application will be used as part of NASA's newly-announced process to examine and select candidate sites for the first human exploration mission to Mars in the 2030s.

"This tool has opened my eyes as to how we should first approach roaming on another world, and now the public can join in on the fun," said Jim Green, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division in Washington, in a news release. "Our robotic scientific explorers are paving the way, making great progress on the journey to Mars. Together, humans and robots will pioneer Mars and the solar system."

For more information about NASA's expeditions to Mars, visit NASA's website.

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