A new NASA contest challenges college-level students to design tools or instrument packages that could be used on the next generation of human-driven moon rovers. Student will have the opportunity to engage in NASA's return to the moon by designing equipment that will help astronauts accomplish tasks on the lunar surface.

Moon explorers will need to navigate in darkness around the moon's south pole and collect lunar regolith, or moon dust, for on-site analysis and radiation detection. They will need to communicate with Earth, a lunar outpost and spacecraft orbiting the moon. Moon inhabitants also will conduct video surveys of the moon's surface for transmission back to Earth, and practice rescue and the safe return of astronauts to their outpost from sorties.

Moon dust has the potential to serve as an on-site resource for building materials, water and oxygen. However, because of its structure, the dust can damage space suits, rovers and other equipment. The particles have sharp, jagged edges and contain microscopic shards of glass. Tool or instrument designs that can withstand the sharp-edged particles could help future astronauts and might earn students an internship at a NASA facility.

The contest is open to full-time students enrolled in accredited post-secondary institution such as universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges and professional schools in the United States or its territories. Individuals or teams may apply, and interdisciplinary teams from across departments and institutions are encouraged.

NASA plans to invite contest winners to the next set of lunar technology mission tests planned for the summer or fall of 2009. Paid internships also are planned as student awards. The contest continues NASA's tradition of investing in the nation's education programs and ties into the agency's goal of strengthening NASA and America's future workforce.

To participate in the contest, students must submit a notice of intent to NASA by Dec. 15, 2008, with final papers due May 15, 2009. Specific details about how participation in the NASA University Design Contest in Exploration Systems, including submission requirements, can be found on the Web at http://moontasks.larc.nasa.gov.

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Congresman John Culberson and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach checked out bioengineering and nanotechnology laboratories at Rice Wednesday as part of their visit to the Texas Medical Center. The two federal visitors met with senior officials from Rice and the medical center and later held a public town hall meeting. For more information provided by Rice University, click here.

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This summer, fifteen college and graduate students are participating in NASA’s National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s Summer Internship Program at Johnson Space Center. For 10-15 weeks, college and graduate students will be working with space life scientists and space medicine researchers.

“These students are participating in research for space exploration and learning about the numerous Earth applications of their work,” said Dr. Jeffrey Sutton, NSBRI director. “We hope this experience inspires them to pursue careers related to the nation’s space program.”

The interns contribute to various research projects that study variables such as balance and orientation disturbances during and after gravitational changes and the effects of radiation on bone. Research findings are focused on health concerns encountered during space travel, but will also impact the understanding and treatment of similar medical conditions experienced on Earth.

NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight. The Institute’s science, technology and education projects take place at more than 60 institutions across the United States.

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The Senate passed the NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act by unanimous consent last week. The coin set, featuring tributes to astronauts, missions to outer space, and the solar system itself, is set to be issued into currency until December of 2009. NASA has captured the imagination of the American public since its inception in 1958 and significantly contributes to our national identity and culture. A Gallup poll conducted earlier this month reported that 68f Americans believe the benefits of manned spaceflight outweigh the risks; and 69gree that the space program '”inspires young people to consider an education in science, technology, math or engineering fields.”  Congressman Culberson is a proud author of this legislation and looks forward to getting it to the President’s desk.

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Tomorrow, May 1, marks the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. Created in 1952 by a congressional resolution, the National Day of Prayer invites people of all faiths to pray for our nation.

Congressman Culberson believes that, in accordance with the Constitution, everyone should be allowed to pray on a voluntary basis. The Congressman also supports legislation that protects religious expression on public property, and reserves the right of local communities to display the Ten Commandments and the national motto, “In God We Trust”.

Congressman Culberson is working to ensure that the free exercise of religion remains a fundamental right for all Americans.

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