NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, both in Huntsville, Alabama, will host the 2015 “Robots to Rocket City” event Feb. 22 at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The 1-3:30 p.m. event is part of the 2015 FIRST Robotics, a national competition program for middle and high school students.
Teams from Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi will demonstrate their robots’ ability to complete a series of tasks and challenges. Local schools participating include: The Mad Rockers of Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools in Madison; Morgan County Mech Tech, comprised of A.P. Brewer, Priceville, Danville and West Morgan High Schools; and Team G.R.E.A.T. from Grissom High School.
This event allows students to prepare for the upcoming FIRST regional competitions held in late February throughout the nation. The ultimate winner(s) will be selected in April at the FIRST Robotics championship in St. Louis.
Each team was required to build their robot in six weeks using a kit of identical parts, but without instructions, requiring students to work together. With the help of adult mentors, students designed robots to compete in the 2015 FIRST Robotics challenge, titled “Recycle Rush.”
FIRST, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” is a national organization founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen in Manchester, New Hampshire, to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and technical fields.
NASA and its Robotics Alliance Project provide grants for high school teams and support for FIRST Robotics competitions around the country to address the critical national shortage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — fields.
During the event, visitors can also view robot demonstrations of the Minotaur mine sweeping robot developed and produced by the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, located at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In addition, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Robotics Camp will have robots on display.
This educational event is a collaborative effort between the NASA Marshall, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the National Space Club of Huntsville.
News media interested in covering the event should contact Tim Hall at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center at 256-701-0916 or Angela Storey of the Marshall Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20.
More information about FIRST programs and competitions is available at:
More information about the Marshall Space Flight Center is available at:
More information about the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is available at:
USSRC Contact:
Tim Hall
256-722-5609
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
timh@spacecamp.com
Marshall Newsroom Contact
Angela Storey
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama
256-544-0034
angela.d.storey@nasa.gov