Future Engineers Selects Poplar Student As Semi-Finalist
Future Engineers has announced 20 semi-finalists in the Lunabotics Junior Contest, a national competition where NASA asked K-12 students to design a robot that can dig and move lunar soil (regolith) from one area of the lunar South Pole to a holding container near a future Artemis Moon base.
One semi-finalist is Colton Tolman. Tolman currently attends Poplar Schools.
The essay contest was issued in collaboration with NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and the Office of STEM Engagement.
The NASA’s Artemis Program will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and establish long-term lunar science and exploration capabilities that will serve as a springboard for future exploration of Mars. Lunar regolith is instrumental in this development and could be used to create lunar concrete, reducing the amount and cost of materials that need to be transported from Earth. The Artemis Program will use what is learned on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending astronauts to Mars.
As NASA sets out to inspire a whole new generation, the Artemis Generation, the contest invited students to design and name their robot, include a 150-word description about it and up to 6 images or illustrations.
More than 2,000 essay submissions were received from K-12 students across the country and nearly 500 educators, professionals, and space enthusiasts offered their time as volunteer judges, to review the thousands of robot designs.
On March 15, Future Engineers announced the 20 semi-finalists, including Tolman. Each semi-finalist wins a Lunabotics Junior Prize Pack and will move on in the competition. On March 22, the semi-finalists were to be narrowed down to eight finalists who will win a virtual session with a NASA expert.
Two grand prize winners will be announced on March 29 and will win a virtual chat for their classrooms with Kennedy Space Center director Janet Petro.
