Gaining Traction on Mars at Adler Planetarium

Engineering design challenges are an integral part of educational content where students have the opportunity to work on real world challenges in a collaborative, team-based environment, applying the lessons learned to the technical problems of the workplace. GRC Engineering Design Challenges (EDCs) will connect students in their classrooms with the unique challenges faced by NASA scientists and engineers as they design the next generation of space vehicles, habitats, and technology. GRC EDCs include a main challenge problem that the scientists and researchers at Glenn Research Center are currently studying. They also include lead-up investigation activities that go deeper into the content and align directly with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students and Educators who participate in GRC EDCs have the opportunity to interact with NASA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and discuss their solutions to the challenge problem and the SMEs' work at NASA. The EDCs conclude with the students submitting their solutions to the challenge problem in the form of a 5-minute response video to the GRC EDC YouTube channel.