Lunabotics Junior Contest

K-12 US students: Your challenge is 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.

As NASA prepares to return to the Moon, lunar regolith will be needed for multiple purposes, like building a moon base using lunar concrete; harvesting water that can also be used for rocket fuel; and extracting possible metals or minerals. NASA will need robots that can help! Please create at least one drawing of your robot’s design (e.g., original work of art, 3D model, diagram, or photo of a prototype, etc.) and a written summary that explains your robot’s design in 150 words or less. Your robot must be no larger than 3.5 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet in size and should address three main design considerations:

Physical Design: How will your robot scoop/dig and move lunar regolith?
Operational Design: Will your robot carry lots of dirt per trip, or transport less dirt in more trips, or somewhere in between?
Dealing with Dust: Lunar dust is a big challenge! Lunar regolith is easily disturbed and can coat everything with a fine layer of dust that “sticks” to surfaces like static cling. How will your robot design handle lunar dust?

Check out the EDUCATION SECTION and BRAINSTORMING resources to learn more about the Moon, NASA’s Artemis program, and the unique design considerations related to lunar robotics!

Selected semifinalists will win a Lunabotics Junior prize pack; finalists will win a virtual session with a NASA subject matter expert; and one winner from each grade category will win a virtual chat with Kennedy Space Center Director, Janet Petro. Please do NOT include your name or face or anyone else’s name or face in your entry! For all entry requirements, please read the RULES. Get designing and good luck!

Individual K-12 Students in US public, private, and home schools (including U.S. territories & possessions, and schools operated by the U.S. for the children of American personnel overseas). NO team entries allowed! Children and students who live in the same household with NASA employees cannot enter. For all eligibility details, please refer to the rules.

Awards:-

GRAND PRIZE: