Xploration Station, which creates education programming focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is hosting a contest offering a once-in-a-lifetime Mauna Kea/Mauna Loa experience. ADVERTISING Xploration Station, which creates education programming focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is hosting
Xploration Station, which creates education programming focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is hosting a contest offering a once-in-a-lifetime Mauna Kea/Mauna Loa experience.
The solitary winner will stay overnight in September in the Mars astronaut simulation on Mauna Loa.
Video from the winner’s experience will be made into an episode of the TV series “Xploration Outer Space.”
Students 18 and older throughout the country focused on aerospace studies are expected to apply.
But staff at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, and the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems have a message for Big Island students — you can win as easily as students elsewhere.
“We would love if the winner was from Hawaii,” said Mary Beth Laychak, outreach program manager for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. “We would love to have a huge number of applicants from local students.”
She said the winning student will take spacesuit excursions in the Mars-like environment of Mauna Loa, experience the PISCES robotics program and get to observe and help operate a rover.
The winner also will visit Mauna Kea’s summit and the Canada-France-Hawaii observatory and “see the sunset from our catwalk — it’s one of the most beautiful things in the world,” Laychak said, and it’s never the same night to night.
“We really hope to see local students applying, and a local student winning,” Laychak said.
Entrants should answer contest queries:
• Why do you think it is important to explore Mars?
• How would this experience help launch your career in the space industry?
• Why do you think we should select you as our next student astronaut?
To apply, visit www.xplorationstation.com/contest.
Entry deadline is 8:59 p.m. May 28.
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
