09 Feb 2001

Over 2000 of these packages will be delivered this week to Dutch primary schools along with their Melkunie school milk. The packages contain a Space Kwispel Game, which has been developed by ESA's Education and Outreach Office in collaboration with the Dutch toy company 'King International'. Children of 10-12 years old will use the Space Kwispel game to design and build a Mars City from school milk cartons.

The children from Meester Eewoutschool in Brielle built an enormous, sparkling and very clever Mars City from school milk cartons they had been collecting. The city included a meteorite gun for protection, oxygen generators, a greenhouse, a burger and pizza restaurant and even a football pitch for the future football team: 'Mars Maniacs'.

Other classes from schools around Holland will submit photos of their 'Mars City' along with design sheets in order to enter the competition. The winning team will be treated to cool space prizes and a 'Space Day' at ESTEC to see satellites and astronauts and to display their space design work to real space scientists and engineers. The competition ends on March 16.

For more information, please contact:

ESA 'Mars City' contact person:
Julia Birch
Tel. +31 71 565 3110
Fax. +31 71 565 5590
Julia.Birchesa.int
ESTEC, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk zh, The Netherlands

'Mars City' Competition website: http://www.estec.esa.nl/outreach/kwispel