Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Clemson University announced today they're teaming up with NASA to offer an online contest for middle school students.
The Clemson-NASA Asteroid Challenge is for all South Carolina students in the 6th to 8th grades, with the task of designing a mission to an asteroid.
Teams of 1-4 students will be expected to submit a slide show presentation to NASA detailing their plan of action for sending a crew on a mission for a close up encounter with an asteroid.
The goal of the project is to engage students in math, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, all fields crucial to NASA and the field of space exploration.
This contest will challenge students to tap into their skills, intellect, and creativity as a means of designing and strategizing a voyage to an asteroid.
Select winners of the challenge, who have displayed exemplary workmanship and creativity, will have the opportunity to have their presentation highlighted on the NASA website.
A Creative Inquiry Team made up of Clemson University students is working with Dr. Benjamin Stephens, a psychology professor at the university, to design the challenge.
They are also responsible for judging the submissions and evaluating the finished projects. Complete guidelines and instructions for submitting an entry can be found on the website.
The competition officially opens on February 20, and closes on March 30, 2012.