We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Watch out test drivers!

Update #8 · Aug 23, 2012 · comment

Thanks to everyone who supported us here on Kickstarter and vouched to become a moon rover test driver. As things have not worked out the way we hoped, we will have to think of another way to invoke you in our testing.

On next Thursday (30. Aug) we will post an update for all of you who want to get an R0 rover or want to help us test drive our rover prototypes on www.roverexperiment.com make sure to check it out!

To keep up with our mission to the moon, 'like' our "Hell Yeah, it's Rocket Science!" Page on Facebook, follow us on Google+ and follow @PTScientists on Twitter.

A big Thank You to all of you from the entire team!

The Part-Time Scientists

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Your help is needed!

Update #7 · Aug 22, 2012 · comment

Less than 20 hours to go!

We got less than 20 hours on the clock and still a little over 70% to go - thus we need YOUR help!
In over 28 days by now only 7000 people saw our project, compared to other Kickstarters this is a very small number. We need your help to change this right now!

Please promote our experiment on all social media channels, post it to Twitter (#rre), Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Fark all places you like and love. Make sure to highlight us (@PTScientists) and we will do our best to get it traction.

Twitter campaign

Use Twitter to spread the word of mouth. Make people aware of the Remote Rover Experiment and tell them why you like it. Tell it to your friends, ask them to Retweet and get people that inspire you to do it as well. Pass along the following link http://bit.ly/DriveOnMoon and use the Hashtag #rre

We believe that space is exciting and space exploration holds the key to our future!

Note, our mission to the moon won't fail because of this but we will loose this unique chance in the history of space exploration to include the public in our testings.

Let's fight for the Remote Rover Experiment!

Watch out on our Facebook page at 'Hell Yeah, it's Rocket Science!' http://fb.me/PartTimeScientists and on Twitter @PTScientists for updates.

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Building Moon Rovers in School

Update #6 · Aug 20, 2012 · comment

As education and excitement about discoveries is the key to a better world, we decided to make sure that some students can get an inside look at all the (remaining) phases of the experiment in a more immediate way than our regular testers - for this we've created a form on our website where they can apply and vouch for their classes.

It's not restricted to classes close to the actual site, but they will have the advantage of being able to visit us on site during the project phase.

Help us get kids excited for STEM courses and hopefully become the engineers of the future!

Spread the word http://www.roverexperiment.com/stem

Greetings - The PTScientists!

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Put on your space gear, we're going to the moon!

Update #5 · Aug 18, 2012 · comment

Meet Asimov 2.5!


These are the first working shots of the Asimov 2.5 series prototype, specifically designed to test drive the heck out of them!

Equipped with our special 360° - 4 wheel configuration, vector based navigation and additional test dependant subsystems like multiple cameras, solar panels and secret testing options. Everything is designed to be as simple as possible while providing valuable data for our mission.

RRE in the press

The Verge - test drive Asimov lunar rover

Gizmag - take control of a moon rover with the Remote Rover Experiment

Heise (for our german readers) - Netzgemeine soll Mond-Rover testen

*The one more thing*

For us the most important thing is, that you test drive our hardware and help to get it ready for the moon. Thus we increase your minimum testing time to 20 minutes! This means you get 4 times the fun to command, play and explore.

Special thanks to our friends at 2 Grad design for helping us visualize Asimov 2.5 so quickly.

Greetings - The PTScientists!

P.S.: For all space geeks that want to support space exploration, there is still 16 hours left to pledge for another Kickstarter we love, the movie Fight for Space!

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Get in the driver seat!

Update #4 · Aug 16, 2012 · comment

In our latest update we added the following clarification for you on how you can take part in our experiment. The question is, who will you be?

Commander or Explorer? 

At the beginning of the experiment, every participant will choose to be either a Commander or an Explorer.

As a Commander you will have lots of fun controlling the moon rover prototype. Similar to an arcade game you will be able to collect points and beat other participants on the scoreboard. The challenges are designed uniquely for everyone in order to give us as much interesting data as possible. Take a capture-the-flag mode as an example, where you would have to find and get flags in the test environment, as you know it from some computer games – but this time using a real vehicle!

You are more interested in true science and realism? Then you should decide to be an Explorer. A simulated signal latency of 2.7 seconds and limited sight provide an authentic feeling of the challenges we will face on the moon ourselves. Of course, we don't want to end up in a moon crater upside down while trying to fulfill our mission objectives!

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381
Backers
$28,758
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0
seconds to go

Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on August 23, 2012.

Funding period
Jul 26, 2012 - Aug 23, 2012 (28 days)

  • Pledge $1 or more

    35 backers

    Get exclusive updates from our moon-bound team including live coverage of building our testing grounds and a media-rich, bi-weekly newsletter!

    Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
  • Pledge $12 or more

    100 backers All gone!

    EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! Same as $15 pledge, but limited to 100 early backers.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $15 or more

    63 backers

    Get one RRE Voucher; it is your key to your very own lunar mission. Choose an available time slot, and after your very own mission countdown you will take control of our latest prototype in our realistic testing ground. Faced with real mission challenges, you will help us improve our mission hardware. Afterwards, you will receive a PTS test pilot certificate and can download a recording of your performance.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $20 or more

    16 backers

    To get our awesome HellYeah! 4GB USB stick with a media package preloaded in addition to the RRE Voucher. Add $5 for 8GB and $10 for 16GB capacity instead. (Shipping: U.S. free, for Germany & Austria $5, Europe $10, all others $15)

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    55 backers

    Get one RRE Voucher and an awesome surprise pack of Part-Time Scientists- and "Hell Yeah, it's Rocket Science!"-labeled goodies like rocket pens, cool stickers, coffee mugs(!) and a rocket-style notepad. (Shipping: free for the U.S., $5 for Germany & Austria, $15 worldwide)

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $40 or more

    26 backers

    Get one RRE Voucher for your lunar mission AND one of our “Hell Yeah, it's Rocket Science!” T-shirts. Choose any size from small to 3XL. (Shipping: free for the U.S., $5 for Germany & Austria, $15 worldwide)

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $45 or more

    3 backers

    *PREMIERE* Get one RRE Voucher and our awesome, new, "Because we Always look up at night" T-Shirt. These shirts are available here for the first time, except for some samples that went out to the team. Choose any size from S to 3XL. (Shipping: U.S. free, for Germany & Austria $5, Europe $10, all others $15)

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $60 or more

    56 backers

    *Kickstarter special!* Get one RRE Voucher, plus a special edition, black(!) “Hell Yeah, it's Rocket Science!” T-shirt. These shirts are exclusive prints for this Kickstarter campaign and, because we love you so much, we will also give you the fan package with pens, cool stickers, a coffee (or tea) mug, and the rocket-style notepad! (Shipping: free for the U.S., $5 for Germany & Austria, $15 worldwide)

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $250 or more

    1 backer

    *Kickstarter special!* Get one full-sized wheel of our Asimov 2.5 Rover prototype laser-engraved with a quote of your choosing. Of course, you will also receive one RRE Voucher, plus media footage from the production of the wheels!

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $275 or more

    3 backers

    *Kickstarter special!* Get the full-sized wheel of our Asimov 2.5 Rover prototype as above plus the black special edition of our "Hell Yeah, it's Rocket Science!" Shirt!

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    7 backers

    *Maker special!* Help us take testing our hardware to the next level and get yourself a fully 360°-steerable Asimov R0 Rover Kit! The Kit contains all necessary parts of the rover, and the Android Remote App with source code along with the Android SDK! Experience it all, from 3-second-delay driving to a 3D Navigator vector-based remote control. Of course, you will also receive an RRE Voucher.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    0 backers

    *Maker special for competitors* Two times the rover two times the fun! Get the R0 kit as described above twice - you'll be able to race your friends or you'll have a backup once you've twiddled too much with one of them. Btw. you'll also get the slots on your RRE Voucher doubled - so you'll be able to double the time you're helping us as well.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $7,500 or more

    2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)

    Get one of our Asimov 2.5 Rovers, especially built for the Remote Rover Experiment. The rover comes fully assembled and can be remote-controlled using almost any smartphone or tablet over Bluetooth. Instead of an RRE Voucher, you will get to drive YOUR very own rover in our realistic testing ground before we ship it to you!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (8 of 8 left)

    Be the 1st civilians to drive off-planet, on the Moon*. Help us fund this experiment and we will let you drive not just on our testing ground but also the real rover on the moon!

    Estimated delivery: Jun 2014
  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

    This is a special option for any sports fan club or company who wants to promote their team and support our experiment. Buy PTS one Asimov 2.5 series rover prototype, and we will custom color and label it to your choosing! You will get the chance to drive the rover in the testing ground, and we will send you media footage from the production, assembly and testing of the rover!

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012