NASA and Lockheed Partner in Orion Exploration Design Challenge

At a kickoff announced by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and prime contractor Lockheed Martin CEO Marilyn Hewson, students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in the Orion Exploration Design Challenge to solve a radiation shield problem facing deep-space exploration flights.  The challenge involves elements of increasing complexity depending upon the grade level (K-4, 5-8, 9-12), including teacher-led activities, and student design problems.  All students participating will have their names flown aboard the maiden voyage of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle in September of 2014, with five winning teams testing their designs in a virtual radiation simulator, and attending the launch at Kennedy Space Center; one team may have its shield tested on the flight.  For more information about the Challenge, go to Orion Exploration Design Challenge .

NASA Broadcasts Set For 9/13/12

NASA, along with Space Adventures and YouTube, will be broadcasting Astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station conducting live experiments submitted by students from around the globe; Bill Nye, the Science Guy, will conduct an interview in Google + Hangout as part of the 40-minute program.  To view the feed, please connect to http://www.youtube.com/spacelab beginning at 7:30am PDT on Thursday, 13 September 2012. 

A second 90-minute webinar on Newton's Laws of Motion: Lunar Nautics is also scheduled for 13 September 2012 beginning at 3:30pm PDT.  Three lessons for grades 5-8 will be provided to educators, including Rocket Staging, Balloon Staging, and Lunar Landing: Swinging Tray and Egg Drop.  For more information and to register for the session, go to http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES3/webseminar1.aspx .

Mars Rover Events Slated for June 2012

Los Angeles and Orange County high school and college students are invited to attend two upcoming Mars Rover events in June.  The first is co-sponsored by IEEE-OC Computer Society and ICOSE, and will be held on 2 June 2012 from 2-5pm at Brandman University in Irvine, California.  Two lead JPL mission engineers will discuss the role of the new rover, "Curiosity," and what has been learned about Mars to date.  RSVP as soon as possible to http://occs-060212.eventbrite.com/ ; questions about the event may be addressed to fredlawler@hotmail.com .

The second event is the annual Jet Propulsion Lab open house, which will be held on 9-10 June 2012 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena.  The theme is "Great Journeys," and will feature "high-definition and 3-D videos, live demonstrations, interactions with scientists and engineers, and a first look at JPL's new Earth Science Center."  For more information, see www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/open-house.cfm .

NASA Youth Art Competition Entries Due 10/21/12

NASA is among the sponsors for the Humans in Space Youth Art Competition.  Students aged 10-18 years are encouraged to submit entries in visual, literary, musical or video categories about how humans in the future will use STEM skills to explore space.  An international panel of judges will determine the winners, whose work will be featured in various media globally.  The theme for the competition is "Be Inspired, Creative and Heard."  Entries are due by 21 October 2012. For more information about the competition, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/humansinspaceart/.