NASA Invites Media to Annual Lunabotics Mining Competition

May 06, 2013

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/Catherine Segar
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Fla.
321-449-4318/321-449-4273
afarmer@dncinc.com/csegar@dncinc.com


MEDIA ADVISORY: M13-069

NASA INVITES MEDIA TO ANNUAL LUNABOTICS MINING COMPETITION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Fifty teams of undergraduate and graduate
students from around the world will demonstrate their lunar excavator
robots May 20 - 24 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


Practice sessions for the fourth annual Lunabotics Mining Competition
will take place May 20 - 21, followed by the official competition.
Media representatives are invited to cover the event on Wednesday,
May 22 from 12 - 4 p.m. EDT, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex. For access to the facility, journalists should contact
Catherine Segar at 321-449-4273 or csegar@dncinc.com. Requests for
interviews with NASA representatives must 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 dirt. During the
competition, the teams' designs -- known as lunabots -- will go
head-to-head to determine which machine can collect and move the most
simulated lunar dirt within a specific 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 by
expanding opportunities for student research and design. The project
provides a competitive environment to foster innovative ideas and
solutions that could potentially be applied to future NASA missions.


Although the competition is for college students, the event offers
many opportunities for students of all ages. NASA is hosting a
college recruitment fair for high school sophomores, juniors and
seniors showcasing STEM education opportunities available at top
colleges and universities across the nation.

For more information on Lunabotics 2013, associated activities and
social media links to participate virtually, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/lunabotics

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For information about the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visit:


http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com


-end-



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