NASA Invites Media To Annual Lunabotics Mining Competition

May 18, 2012

Ann Marie Trotta
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1601
ann.marie.trotta@nasa.gov

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
tracy.g.young@nasa.gov

Andrea Farmer
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Fla.
321-449-4318
afarmer@dncinc.com




MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-088

NASA INVITES MEDIA TO ANNUAL LUNABOTICS MINING COMPETITION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- More than 50 teams of undergraduate and
graduate students from eight countries will come to NASA's Kennedy
Space Center in Florida May 21-26 to take part in the third annual
Lunabotics Mining Competition.

Practice sessions will take place May 21-22, followed by the official
competition the rest of the week. Media are invited to cover the
opening day ceremony and competition on Wednesday, May 23, from noon
- 4 p.m. EDT at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. For access
to the facility, journalists should contact Andrea Farmer at
321-449-4318 or afarmer@dncinc.com. Requests for interviews with NASA
representatives need to be submitted to Tracy Young at 321-867-2468
or tracy.g.young@nasa.gov.

The teams have designed and built remote controlled or autonomous
robots that can excavate simulated lunar soil. During the
competition, the teams' designs, known as lunabots, will go
head-to-head to determine whose machine can collect and deposit the
most simulated moon dust within a specified amount of time.

The competition is a NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission
Directorate project designed to engage and retain students in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The
project provides a competitive environment that may result in
innovative ideas and solutions that potentially could be applied to
future NASA missions.

Video highlights of the practice and competition will air on the NASA
TV Video File. For downlink information, schedules and links to
streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

To view the competition webcast, visit:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-edge3

For more information about the competition and a list of participating
teams, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/lunabotics


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