NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Welcome to the NASA Education Robotics Web site.

Innovation, creativity, problem solving -- the world of robotics at NASA is all of these things. Spend some time on this site to see if robotics might be in your future.

Things you can do on this site:
--Answer the question: What Is Robotics?
--Practice your programming skills with the interactive robotic activity.
--Watch and download video and multimedia features about robotics.
--Follow a timeline tracing the history of robotics.
--Check out lesson plans for your classroom.
--Stay up-to-date with information about NASA-supported robotics competitions.
--Visit the Robotics Image Gallery.
--Explore other worlds with NASA through robotic spacecraft discoveries.
--Read about scientists and engineers who design and test robots.
--Browse NASA Web sites for information about robotics.

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Test your programming skills and move the robot around the obstacles. Credit: NASA

NASA tests robots for exploration in areas called analogs. Analogs are places where the environment is similar to locations like Mars or the moon, where a robot may be used. One NASA analog is in the Arizona desert. NASA robotics experts conduct field tests in the desert to assess new ideas for rovers, spacewalks and ground support. Some of these tests are conducted by a team called Desert RATS, which stands for Desert Research And Technology Studies.

What is it like to be part of a team that designs and tests robots? Find out and test your programming skills with ROVER. Guide the robot over an analog of 12 terrain grids without consuming all of his battery power. Watch out for obstacles!

>  Play interactive game
>  Play text game

The STS-131/19A crew patch highlights the space shuttle in the rendezvous pitch maneuver. Photos taken during this maneuver are analyzed back on Earth to clear the space shuttle's thermal protection system for re-entry. Credit: NASA

Without robotics, major accomplishments of building the International Space Station, repairing satellites in space and exploring other worlds would not be possible. Robotic arms and hands are used on the space shuttle and the space station to build, repair, investigate and more.

During STS-131, Mission Specialist Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger will use the shuttle arm to inspect the space shuttle for any damage that may have occurred during launch or while in space. Other members of the STS-131 crew will use the space station's Canadarm2 to move equipment from the shuttle's payload bay to the station.

> View Mission Site

	Alan Poindexter -- Commander >  Bio →
	James P. Dutton Jr. -- Pilot > Bio →
	Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger -- Mission Specialist > Bio → > Educator Feature -- Hand In Hand > Student Feature -- Hand In Hand
	Clay Anderson -- Mission Specialist > Bio →
	Rick Mastracchio -- Mission Specialist > Bio →
	Stephanie Wilson -- Mission Specialist > Bio →
	Naoko Yamazaki -- Mission Specialist > Bio →