Teams of undergraduate and graduate students from around the country will demonstrate their excavator robots May 18-22 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Media representatives are invited to cover the event on Tuesday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For access, journalists should contact Liz Perez at 321-449-4273 or lbperez@delawarenorth.com.

More than 45 teams have designed and built remote-controlled mining robots that can traverse the simulated Martian terrain features and excavate simulated regolith. During the competition, the teams’ robots will go head-to-head to determine which machine can collect and move the most regolith within a specified amount of time.

The competition is a NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate project designed to engage and retain students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields by expanding opportunities for student research and design. The project provides a competitive environment to foster innovative ideas and solutions that potentially could be applied to future NASA missions.

Although the competition is for college students, the event offers many opportunities for students of all ages. NASA is hosting a college recruitment fair for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors showcasing STEM education opportunities available at top colleges and universities across the nation. The event also will offer additional STEM activities for students of all ages.

For more information about the competition, associated activities and social media links to participate virtually, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasarmc

For information about the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visit:

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com

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