[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/138241136[/vimeo]

Hack him back!

In The Martian,  a resourceful astronaut named Mark Watney is marooned on Mars. He figures out a way to stretch his limited supplies, contact NASA, and survive disaster until a rescue mission can be mounted.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, people are watching every… scary… move.

Why just watch the movie when you can participate? Microsoft and 20th Century Fox have partnered to create a Hacking Mars design challenge. From September 15 to October 15, teams (members must be over 18 years of age) can compete to devise solutions to help the stranded astronaut. In addition, fans can track his progress with a new interactive map from Bing, while teachers and students will be able to download space-related curriculum through Bing in the Classroom.

Contest participants can connect via Skype with Microsoft tech experts, watch exclusive content from the film, and view custom-made videos from Fox containing interviews with Andy Weir about the challenges Watney faces on Mars. In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, the winning team will travel to Microsoft to experience the company’s HoloLens technology, which enables high-definition holograms to come to life in the real world. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory uses the technology to provide virtual aid to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Filed under: Competitions and Contests, K-12 Outreach Programs, Web Resources

Tags: 20th Century Fox, aerospace lessons, Competitions for Students, Contest, Hacking Mars, Internet Resources, Microsoft, Resources for Teachers, The Martian, Web Resources