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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In August, while Democrats were on vacation, Republicans took to the dark House floor to protest Speaker Pelosi’s inaction on energy legislation. The Republican message centered primarily on domestic energy production. The Republicans’ protests – which reflected the views of the American public – were successful in keeping the Congressional moratorium on oil and gas exploration from being extended.

Today is a monumental day in the quest for energy independence, as the federal ban on energy exploration off our coasts has expired. To ensure Americans have access to the vast resources available in areas such as the Outer Continental Shelf, the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and the Mountain West, Congress must continue to work on legislation that enables these resources to be brought to market and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Rep. Culberson is a co-sponsor of a bi-partisan energy bill (H.R. 6709) that will bring relief to Americans by increasing domestic exploration and diversifying our country’s energy portfolio. The bill would increase energy conservation by extending tax credits for renewable energy production and hybrid cars, and improve energy efficiency by establishing tax credits for energy efficient buildings and homes. Additionally, the bill would increase domestic energy supply by allowing drilling 25 miles off our coasts. More production means more American jobs and growing our ailing manufacturing industry. Congress must act now or the victory will be short-lived.

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On September 25, 2008, the Iraqi Parliament approved legislation allowing provincial and local elections to take place in the country early next year. Gridlocked for months by partisan differences, the election law sets the stage for further political reconciliation in Iraq. The groundbreaking election will allow Iraqis, for the first time ever, to vote for individuals nominated by political parties. Once again, women and minorities will have equal rights in casting their ballots. A fair election will ensure that sectarian violence, reduced because of the success of the surge, will continue to give way to peaceful democratic progress. This milestone was only achieved because of the hard work of our brave men and women in uniform.

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In a rush to pass a bill before the Congressional moratorium on oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) expires on October 1, Democrats once again brought up meaningless energy legislation last week. Their latest bill – introduced late on Monday, Sept. 15, and brought to the floor for a vote in mere hours – will not help lower energy costs for Americans.

In their haste, Democrats failed to address a number of issues. The bill does not address refinery permitting, expansion of nuclear energy, or clean coal technology. Most importantly, though, it does not address drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and permanently blocks drilling in parts of the OCS. By blocking access to the abundant natural gas and oil resources in these areas, the Democrats are once again tying the hands of Americans.

To read Rep. Culberson’s statement on this bill, please click here.

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At the start of this Congress, Nancy Pelosi published a document entitled "A New Direction for America." House Republicans, and the folks they are speaking to in the Capitol this August, believe that she is leading this House in the wrong direction.

Democrat’s Top 10 List of Broken Promises to the American People:

10) Every person in America has a right to have his or her voice heard. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

9) No Member of Congress should be silenced on the floor, as has been the practice of Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

8) There should be regular consultations among the elected leaders of parties to discuss scheduling, administration and operations of the House. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

7) There will be Bipartisan Administration of the House. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

6) Regular meetings between Chairs and Ranking Members of committees and staffs should be held. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

5) Bills should be developed following full hearings and open subcommittee and committee markups, with appropriate referrals to other committees. Members should have at least 24 hours to examine a bill prior to consideration at the subcommittee level. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

4) Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full, and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the Minority the right to offer its alternatives, including a substitute. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

3) Members should have at least 24 hours to examine bill and conference report text prior to floor consideration. Rules governing floor debate must be reported before 10 p.m. for a bill to be considered the following day. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

2) House-Senate conference committees should hold regular meetings (at least weekly) of all conference committee Members. All duly-appointed conferees should be informed of the schedule of conference committee activities in a timely manner and given ample opportunity for input and debate as decisions are made toward final bill language. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

1) And maybe the biggest sham so far - The Suspension Calendar should be restricted to non-controversial legislation, with minority-authored legislation scheduled in relation to the party ratio in the House. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

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