NASA Announces Lunar Exploration Competition for Students

Aug. 4, 2009

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468


RELEASE: 38-09

REISSUE: NASA ANNOUNCES LUNAR EXPLORATION COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
is accepting proposals from teams of undergraduate and graduate
students for the inaugural Lunabotics Mining Competition. The event
will be held at the Astronaut Hall of Fame near NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., May 25-28, 2010.

Full competition proposals can include a request for up to $5,000 to
cover designing, building, and travel expenses. NASA anticipates
funding the first 10 approved team requests.

Participants in the competition will design and build excavation
systems that could be used for future lunar exploration. Teams will
test their designs in a "head to head" challenge to see which design
can excavate the most simulated lunar regolith, or dirt, over a
specific timeframe. The competition also involves submittal of a
systems engineering paper, as well as an educational outreach
project.

The competition is designed to engage and retain students in the
science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines
critical to NASA's missions.

For information on the competition and how to apply, visit:

http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdsp...Lunabotics.htm

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education


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