Search MnSTA

NASA’s Power to Explore Student Challenge  

NASA’s fourth annual Power to Explore Student Challenge, a science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM) writing challenge, invites K–12 students in the United States to learn about radioisotope power systems, a type of nuclear battery integral to many of NASA’s far-reaching space missions. Students will write an essay about a new nuclear-powered mission to any moon in the solar system they choose. Submissions are due Jan. 31, 2025. 

Entries should detail where students would go, what they would explore, and how they would use radioisotope power systems to achieve mission success in a dusty, dark, or far away moon destination. Judges will review entries in three grade-level categories: K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Student entries are limited to 275 words and should address the mission destination and mission goals, and describe one of the student’s unique powers that will help the mission.  

One grand-prize winner from each grade category will receive a trip for two to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to learn about the people and technologies that enable NASA missions. Every student who submits an entry will receive a digital certificate and an invitation to a virtual event with NASA experts in which they’ll learn about what powers the NASA workforce to dream big and explore.  

Click here for more!