Lockheed Martin is working on technologies that will make deep-space travel to Mars possible. As part of its Generation Beyond K-12 STEM education initiative, the company announced the winners of its nationwide contest asking students to design a Mars-orbiting space lab and living space at the USA Science & Engineering Festival this past Friday.
The contest tasked middle school students to design a Mars Base Camp Habitation Module that will dock with NASA’s Orion deep space spacecraft and provide basic necessities such as water, food, oxygen, and power in a comfortable environment for the three-year roundtrip it will take to get to Mars.
The individual winner is from East Prairie Elementary School in Skokie, Illinois and the team winners are from Stoller Middle School in Portland, Oregon. Their winning entries are available at: https://www.generationbeyondinschool.com/competition/video/archives.
Illinois Student Winner B-Roll: https://vimeo.com/263553244
Portland Student Winner B-Roll: https://vimeo.com/263556005
Images: https://lockheedmartin.smugmug.com/Generation-Beyond-Challenge-Winners-Event/
“Lockheed Martin is already developing design concepts for a Mars Habitat, and the 2017 Generation Beyond Video Challenge Contest was a great opportunity to hear innovative new ideas from the next generation of engineers, builders and explorers who will help us get there,” said Tony Antonelli, a former NASA space shuttle pilot who heads advanced civil space programs for Lockheed Martin. “The goal of Generation Beyond is to spark student interest in STEM, and this contest is one of many ways we’re using exciting topics, like space travel, to engage students in learning.”
For more information read the entire press release here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/working–living-on-mars-students-win-national-competition-to-design-orbiting-science-lab-living-space-for-astronauts-on-mars-mission-300625791.html
And check out the Generation Beyond website for videos of student entries and more information about the program here: https://www.generationbeyondinschool.com/