Build the Moon Challenge
Educators are invited to join the new Build the Moon Challenge! The Build the Moon Challenge is a new signature competition from the Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS) to help engage, inspire, and motivate students to learn through real-world entrepreneurial programming in the burgeoning space industry.
Build the Moon Challenge is a global citizen science research experiment and a hands-on education and workforce development competition to explore how lunar in-situ resources can be used to enhance construction needs for future lunar missions.
Applications: Due August 11
The VSGC is sponsoring 10 Virginia educators to join the international Build the Moon Challenge. Help NASA explore how lunar regolith could be used in the construction of future lunar habitats and their supporting infrastructure! The Build the Moon Challenge (BTMC) is structured into three fundamental parts: (1) Developing a Regolith Concrete Mixture, (2) Demonstrating the Construction Capabilities of your Concrete, and (3) Using your Concrete to Design a Lunar Habitat and Supporting Infrastructure. Additional optional Preliminary Activities that help set the stage for students prior to beginning their core BTMC process are provided. Extension Activities are also provided for teachers that want to provide further learning opportunities beyond the core BTMC processes.
Virginia middle and high school teachers are eligible.
Educators sponsored by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium to participate in the ICS Build the Moon Challenge receive:
- A free kit
- A $100 stipend
- Support/Mentoring
- Top team(s) sent to National Competition in Iowa
- Develop your own lunar concrete using regolith simulant.
- Demonstrate your mix by building bricks, walls, and landing pads.
- Design a full lunar habitat to support future Moon missions.
Middle School Division – Inaugural “Top Award & Overall Best in Show” Kindred Learning Adventurers (Woodbridge, VA) Teacher: Deanna Sherman Team Members: Brendan Ruffin, Diallo Sherman, Gabrielle Castillo, Jamis Lindsay, Ryland Thissen
High School Division – “Overall Best in Show” TABB Builders (Tabb High School, Yorktown, VA) Teacher: Stephanie Miller Team Members: Bruk Berhe, Makayla Brindle, Clara Cho, Charlei Dotterrer, Katherine Michael, Jatin Tiwari, Sandeep Valasundar, Rivier Williams, Rhett Zhao, Eddie Zhu
High School Division – “Overall Best in Show” Blue Commodores (Maury High School, Norfolk, VA) Teacher: Dr. Mary Hing Team Members: William Thomas, Victor Hulse, Luke McNabb, Uniqua Smith, Liza Klink, Jaylen Mitchell, Gavin Willis, Demetrius McCloud, Henry Mulvey, Makhyiah Wiggins, Joseph Washington.