NASA Encourages Public to Explore Its Curiosity With New Rover-Themed Badge on Foursquare

Dec. 27, 2012

John Yembrick / Jason Townsend
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1584 / 202-358-0359
john.yembrick@nasa.gov
jason.c.townsend@nasa.gov

Veronica McGregor
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-9452
veronica.c.mcgregor@jpl.nasa.gov

Laura Covington
Foursquare, New York
919-610-7598
laura@foursquare.com

RELEASE: 12-442

NASA ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO EXPLORE ITS CURIOSITY WITH NEW ROVER-THEMED BADGE ON FOURSQUARE

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the mobile application Foursquare have teamed
up to help the public unlock its scientific curiosity with a new
rover-themed Curiosity Explorer badge.

Users of the Foursquare social media platform can earn the badge by
following NASA and checking in at a NASA visitor center or venue
categorized as a science museum or planetarium. Upon earning the
badge, users will see a special message on Foursquare:

"Get out your rock-vaporizing laser! You've explored your scientific
curiosities just like NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. Stay curious
and keep exploring. You never know what you'll find."

The launch of the badge follows the October check-in on Mars by NASA's
Curiosity rover, which marked the first check-in on another planet.
Foursquare users can keep up with Curiosity as the rover checks in at
key locations and posts photos and tips, all while exploring the Red
Planet.

After landing in Gale Crater in August, Curiosity began a 23-month
mission that includes some of Mars' most intriguing science
destinations. The mission's main science destination will be on Mount
Sharp, a mountain about 3 miles (5 kilometers) tall. First, Curiosity
is investigating targets on flatter ground near the mountain, seeking
clues in the rocks and soil that would indicate whether Mars ever was
capable of supporting microbial life. It also is taking pictures of
the trip, beaming them back to Earth for all to share.

NASA has been on Foursquare since 2010 through a strategic partnership
with the platform. This partnership, launched with astronaut Doug
Wheelock's first-ever check-in from the International Space Station,
has allowed users to connect with NASA, and enabled them to explore
the universe and rediscover Earth.

The partnership launched the now-expired NASA Explorer badge for
Foursquare users, which encouraged them to explore NASA-related
locations across the country. It also included the launch of a NASA
Foursquare page, where the agency continues to provide official tips
and information about the nation's space program.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the Mars Science
Laboratory mission and its Curiosity rover for the agency's Science
Mission Directorate in Washington. The rover was designed, developed
and assembled at JPL, a division of the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena, Calif.

To follow the Mars Curiosity rover and NASA on Foursquare, visit:

http://www.foursquare.com/MarsCuriosity

and

http://www.foursquare.com/NASA

For information about NASA's partnership with Foursquare, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/foursquare.html

For more information about NASA's Curiosity mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/msl

and

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl


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