Challenger Center: What If Competition

Calling all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students and Adult Sponsors to participate in our new competition!

OVERVIEW

What If Student Competition

What If is a series of annual competitions sponsored by Anousheh Ansari and designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects with the goal of encouraging students to use their imagination for innovative ideas. This year’s 2008-2009 competition is focused on U.S. middle-school students (grades 6th-8th). The competition will be expanding to other countries and grades in the future.

If you are a 6th, 7th or 8th grader (and within the age of 10-14) in the U.S., you can enter this essay competition and win a great prize! This year's competition is about how to help the crew of Space Peace Mission 1 (SPM-1) whose lunar module altair was damaged during landing and stranded the 4 astronauts onboard! This essay and any supporting information are due February 19, 2010. You can form a team of two or work alone, but all teams require an Adult Sponsor. You can Register your team now at www.whatifprize.org!

Competition Topic

The Crew of first Constellation mission Space Peace Mission 1 (SPM-1) left earth last week on a mission to the moon. Their goal was to survey the area near the south pole of the moon and find the best location for establishing the first permanent lunar base. During the landing, the Lunar Module Altair was damaged and stranded the 4 astronaut onboard. A new Lunar Lander module is being built to be delivered to the astronauts, but it will take 6 months before they can finish and deliver this return vehicle. The astronauts only have food and supplies for 7 days. NASA has planned an unmanned mission to deliver supplies to the astronauts.

What if you were put in charge of deciding what can be put in this vessel that would help the astronauts survive for 6 months? Remember they can use what you are sending to them along with any other resource available on the moon or onboard Altair. Remember the life of these astronauts depends on your creativity, and accuracy.

Competition Schedule

November 9, 2009 - Competition launch and registration opens
February 5, 2010 - Registration closes
February 19, 2010 - Competition entries are due
March 2, 2010 - Winners are selected and notified
April 8-12, 2010 - Grand Prize winner attends the Conrad Award Innovation Summit™

Prizes

The following prizes will be awarded for the 2009-2010 What If Student Competition.

Grand Prize Winner
The Grand Prize winner will be the best team from all three 1st Place Grade Level Winners*. The Grand Prize winning team will receive the following:

$2000 travel stipend to be used solely for travel to the Conrad Innovation Summit™ on April 8-12, 2010 and the creation of a tradeshow display for the team's entry to be presented at the Innovation Summit™.
Grand Prize Award certificate
A What If t-shirt for each member of the team
The Grand Prize team will be highlighted on the What If Competition Web Site and in Anousheh Ansari's Monthly newsletter
Anousheh Ansari will visit and speak at the school of the Grand Prize Team

1st Place Grade Level Winners
Each grade level (6th, 7th and 8th) will have a first place winner. Please note that teams will be judged and awarded prizes based on the highest grade level student on the team. These three first place teams will receive the following:

$1000 cash scholarship award for each team
1st Place Award certificate
A What If t-shirt for each member of the team
The winning teams will be highlighted on the What If Competition Web Site and in Anousheh Ansari's Monthly newsletter.

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mention certificate
A What If t-shirt for each member of the team
The team will be highlighted on the What If Competition Web Site and in Anousheh Ansari's Monthly newsletter.

Student Participation Recognition
All Students who submit an entry for the competition will receive the following:

Participation Certificate
A What If t-shirt for each member of the team

Adult Sponsor Participation Recognition
All Adult Sponsors who sponsor a team for the competition will receive the following:

Sponsorship certificate