1. Update on the Apollo 50th Student Challenge
Challenge Involves
Building a replica of the Apollo Lunar Lander
Using a Blue Heron Drone to fly over the high resolution map of the Apollo 11 landing site and endeavoring to land a Mindstorm Rover within a prescribed landing ellipse.
Modify a Lego Mindstorm to carry an Astronaut and Payload to move along a prescribed path on the lunar surface and deliver the payload at a prescribed location.
Complete the exercise in the shortest amount of time with the greatest accuracy to staying within the set exploration path. .

2. This picture shows the rover course

3. Course Layout 10 ft 13 ft Student Flight Crew No Entry
Drone takeoff and landing area
except for placement of the Lunar Astronaut
10 ft
Actual Apollo 11 landing site..
Opaque Screen
Control table for drone and robot
No Entry
13 ft

4. Actual Apollo 11 Walks
Blue line is width of lunar at about 30 ft actual – lets make the landing site 8.5 ft by 11 ft meaning 1in on the map equals 1 ft on the competition print

5. Landing Ellipse 10 ft 13 ft 50% 70% 90% 100%
Every landing has some uncertainty as to where a spacecraft will actually land – the area involved in this uncertainty is called the landing. Ellipse. In our case; full points if one lands within the inner circle (0.5 ft in diameter); 90% points within second circle; 70% withint 3 circle;
50% point within outer circle; no points if outside the landing ellipse.
13 ft

6. Surface Exploration Required Travel Path B: Actual Landing site
A: Target Landing Site
C: Payload Deployment
The actual foot prints of the astronauts can be seen in this high resolution image. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored around the lunar lander and Neil Armstrong took an extend walk to the crater to left of the lander and brought home samples from the crater. The wlks were limited as they wanted to minimize risks to the astroanuts on an unexplored world. This crater is too close for the competition but to simulate that part of the exploration, we will work to the very large crater at the left along the path between the blue lines; each time the explorer goes beyond the path, points will lost by the team. The lego robot can be started anywhere within a radius of 6in from the drone landing site, represented by the “x”. The lego robot should first say “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, it should then complete a circle (in any direction around the lunar lander, and then move d

7. Payload Delivery 60% Scoring Zones for Payload deployment B: 80% C:
100%
The robotic explorer is to then deliver a model of a science instrument left on the moon any time during the Apollo era or culturally relevant article for the team on the large X, Points will be deducted as before with distance from the desired target area. The robotic explorer should make a voice something about the delivered package before moving around the crater.
Payload Delivery

8. Geological Samples Required Travel Path B: Actual Landing site C:
Payload Deployment
A: Target Landing Site
D: Pebbles
Since the area to the right of the crater is barred by rough terrain the robotic explorer will need to traverse to the left along the green path. At point Y, the robotic explorer should stop. Do a 360 degree look around stop. The student astronaut should take a phone camera photo of the full setting and submit the photo for judgement
Geological Samples

9. Sample Return Required Travel Path B: Actual Landing site C:
Payload Deployment
D: Pebbles
Since the area to the right of the crater is barred by rough terrain the robotic explorer will need to traverse to the left along the green path. At point Y, the robotic explorer should stop. Do a 360 degree look around stop. The student astronaut should take a phone camera photo of the full setting and submit the photo for judgement
Sample Return

10. Payload Delivery Scoring
60%
80% B:
Actual Landing site
100% C:
Payload Deployment
D: Pebbles
At the moon there is always a risk of radiation hazards from solar storms, so that a quick return of an astronaut is always needed. The robot should give a count down as it is going back to the lander. The robotic explorer with the shortest time and closest parking to the lander (without hitting the the lander will gainthe highest number of points.

11. Update on the Apollo 50th Student Challenge
Status
Proof of Concept with more refinements to occur in December
Hubs at
Definite – WA, OR, ID, MT, SD/ND, AZ, TX, OK, NC/SC,MN
Possible –PA,TN/KY, GSFC,OH/MI,NM
Hubs must have at least 20 teams participate in Challenge
Only Recognized Hubs can award grand prizes to JSC
SCC will be a sub-hub (local competition) – the winner will be eligible to go to the July Hub competition in Charleston SC

12. Update on the Apollo 50th Student Challenge
Status
Local Institutional Challenges can be Schools, Libraries, and Museums – SCC will be a local host
Individual teams can register to go and compete at a Hub but no financial support from organizers
Already got Blue Heron Drones to be a sponsor – offering substantial cost reduction to Drones

13. Update on the Apollo 50th Student Challenge
Important Dates
Official announcement of challenge, mid- January, 2019
Registration opens February 1, 2019 and closes March 30.
Mission Patch mini-competition submissions due April 15.
Institutional Teams run local competitions, April-June – SCC date is May 4th, 2019
Mission Patch winners announce April 30.
Submissions for best practice video posted on social media with a hash tag of #Apollo50, #ACS2019 close June 15,
Awards for best social media video given June 30.
ACS Hub events run between July 16-20, depending on which Hub is selected.
Winner of the Hub Events are invited to visit Johnson Space Flight Center for August 7-9 showcase
Secondary awards may be provided at the ACS Hubs and may differ accordingly.