The contest is part of NASA's ongoing effort to engage the public in its Moon to Mars mission, which will search for signs of microbial life, characterize the planet's climate and geology and pave the way for human exploration. If you're not a K-12 student but want to get involved, NASA is also accepting applications to judge the contest submissions.

If you want to go a step further, you can participate in NASA's "Send Your Name" campaign. Your moniker will be etched into a dime-sized chip and sent to space. In return, you'll get a commemorative "boarding-pass." The rover's launch is still more than a year away, and there's a good chance NASA will share more ways to get involved in the meantime.