Challenge Week

Day One Challenges

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Goddard Space Flight Center

During the course of the day, finalists had the opportunity to work in a 1/6th gravity simulation, attempt a repair to the Hubble Telescope, and look for water on Mars. Along the way, they had the chance to meet and work with some of NASA's top scientists, including Dr. James Garvin. The finalists also performed a science "whelmer" demonstration on camera in the NASA television studios.

Read more about today's challenges:

Martian Challenge
The recent discovery of water on the surface of Mars is celebrated with this challenge. With the assistance of NASA's lead scientist in solar system exploration, Young Scientist Challenge finalists learned how the surface topology of Mars is carefully scanned via orbiting satellites. Finalists were challenged to use computer controlled precision laser range finders to gather topographic data from scale models of actual Martian terrain.

Challenge Hosts: Dr. James Garvin, Chief Scientist, NASA GSFC
Judges: Michael Husband, Linda Stevens

See photos from the Martian Challenge!

Lunar Challenge
As NASA continues planning to return to the surface of the moon, scientists again need to train themselves to live and work for extended periods in low gravity situations. In this challenge, finalists constructed, modified and operated a system capable of providing a one-sixth gravity simulation experience. In the large NASA centrifuge lab, dummy was strapped into a lunar saddle and travelled 100 feet via an overhead gantry system to perform simple tasks as might be experienced on the moon.

Challenge Hosts: Marci Delaney, Tara Clopper
Judges: Dottie Yunger, Mark Oleksak

See photos from the Lunar Challenge!

Hubble Challenge
The uncertainties and challenges of performing even simple tasks in space conditions will be the core of this activity. Finalists employed the original training models of the Hubble Telescope to complete a complex repair mission, similar to those performed by NASA astronauts. This challenge was hosted by both a NASA Astronaut and a NASA scientist.

Challenge Hosts: Russ Werneth, Paul Richards
Judges: Judy Heberling, Kenny Luna

See photos from the Hubble Challenge!

Studio Communication Challenge
Prepared to show proficiency in communicating science via television, finalists rehearsed at home video presentations featuring optics, electromagnetic radiation, magnetism, thermodynamics, and basic electronics. Each presentation related to a phenomenon commonly experienced in space:

Newton's Prism—a gathering of frequencies

Using common, everyday objects, finalists first split visible white light into some of its constituent visible colors, and then using an electric fan, recombined colored light to form white light.

Eddy Currents & the Earth's magnetic field

This activity provided an amazing demonstration of how a metallic object moving through a strong magnetic field, can generate internal electric current, with a resulting repulsive magnetic field.

Telescope Basics: Light Refraction

Refraction, or "bending" light rays, was demonstrated by finalists. Using a simple light bending technique, finalists made a lab beaker completely "disappear!"

The Optics of Total Internal Reflection

Finalists used a small laser and samples of optical cable material to demonstrate how information carrying light beams can be conveyed via fiber optic transmission.

Thermodynamics 101

Using several household items—metal cans, thermometers, a lamp, candle, pencil and copper wire; finalists demonstrated basic science concepts behind the challenge of managing heat distribution and dissipation in outer space.

Challenge Host & Judge: Kenny Luna
Judges: Mark Oleksak, Dottie Yunger, Mike Husband, Linda Stevens, Judy Heberling

See photos from the Studio Communication Challenge!