HiRISE: web 2.0 in space exploration

The HiRISE experiment announced their new HiWish project which aims to involve the public in suggesting which hi-res pictures should be taken on Mars.
HiRISE stands for the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment which is on board the  Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launched by NASA in 2005 to investigate specifically in the long term presence of water on Mars.
HiRISE project is already providing a wide collection of 11758 (at present) stunning photographic material available in several high resolution formats to the public, including a catalogue of Anaglyphs for the observation in 3D relief of the Martian surface. The HiRISE camera is the most powerful ever sent to another planet and with a resolution of 30 cm/pixel allows us to see images of Mars with an unprecedented level of detail.
HiWish is a new, smart and fun way to be part to the exploration of the red planet. It’s basically a system through which you can submit a suggestion to the experiment for an area of the Mars surface to be photographed by the spacecraft camera. The selection is very straight forward and allows to user to specify a location by selecting it on a Mars Google Maps gadget. Other more specific information regarding the location, as well as the scientific field of interest for the image, can be submitted by other tools present in the page.
I can’t do anything but praising this operation which is another example of the so-called web 2.0 can be used as a powerful educational tool. If you stop for a second and think about it, it’s really astonishing how our generation is given access to such incredible opportunities to take part of space exploration directly from the comfort of our homes.