NASA Marshall Center to Host National Robotic Competition for Students

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will conduct the 2017 FIRST Robotics Kick-Off event Jan. 7 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The event is a national robotic contest that allows teams of students grades 9 through 12 to design, build and test a robot within six weeks once they choose a “Kit of Parts,” NASA said Friday.

Finalists will compete for district and regional levels to be held in March and April in order to enter the national championships to be held in Houston from April 19 to 22 and St. Louis from April 26 to 29.

The space agency expects several student teams to participate, such as Team G.R.E.A.T. from Grissom High School in Huntsville and the Mad Rockers of Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools in Madison, Alabama.

Inventor Dean Kamen of New Hampshire founded the national organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, also known as FIRST, in an effort to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Marshall collaborated with USSRC and the National Space Club in Huntville on the event.