Last winter, scientists at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Center eagerly monitored the progress of the Mars rovers, “Spirit” and “Opportunity.” Several floors below, in the lobby of ASU’s Mouer Building, Steve Hilton, a ceramic artist studying for his master of fine arts degree at the School of Art, was busy creating and installing a 10-by-15-foot clay model of the Martian surface.

The model forms the landscape over which users at ASU are able to drive Lego models of the Mars rovers using remote control technology. Soon, a Web aspect will become operational, enabling remote users to drive the Lego rovers on Hilton’s clay landscape from their own computers. It will be accessible through an educational Web site, www.redrovergoestomars.org.

Hilton was uniquely qualified to create the landscape model. Prior to working on his MFA, he taught high school astronomy. He also has a bachelor of science degree in geology. He based his model on the landscape relayed in the stunning color images sent to Earth by the rovers.