Nov 20, 2008

Sonja Alexander Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761 sonja r alexander@nasa gov

Angela Storey Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala 256-544-0034 angela d storey@nasa gov

RELEASE: 08-305

RACERS GET READY! NASA'S GREAT MOONBUGGY REGISTRATION BEGINS

HUNTSVILLE, Ala -- Registration is open for NASA's 16th annual Great Moonbuggy Race, taking place April 3-4, 2009, in Huntsville, Ala Each year, NASA challenges high schools and colleges across the country and the world to design and build lightweight, human-powered moonbuggies Innovative students put their own spin on the historic lunar rovers that carried Americans across the surface of the moon during the Apollo era Builders with "the right stuff" then converge on Huntsville to test their engineering savvy - and their endurance

The race was founded at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville in 1994 The U S Space and Rocket Center hosts the two-day event The nationally renowned space museum and tourist attraction constructs a punishing course - a half-mile of hills and craters simulating the lunar surface - on the looping sidewalks and paths around its grounds

Participating institutions may register up to two moonbuggies and teams each year Registration for the 2009 race closes Feb 1 For complete rules, moonbuggy design parameters and registration, visit:

http://moonbuggy msfc nasa gov

High school teams will compete April 3 College teams will take the course April 4 Prizes are awarded to the three teams in each division that finish with the fastest race times NASA and industry sponsors present additional awards for innovative buggy design, team spirit, best newcomer and other achievements

Participation in the race has increased annually from just eight college teams in 1994 to 46 high school and college teams in 2008, with hundreds of students coming from 17 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, India and Germany to participate

-end-

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