Students from Lincoln High School and Lawton Chiles High School brought pride to Leon County Schools, earning medals at this year’s prestigious Student Astronaut Challenge, held at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Competing alongside schools from across Florida and Georgia, the teams demonstrated their skills in four demanding challenges: Simulator, Landing, Engineering, and Design.

The Student Astronaut Challenge is a rigorous academic competition that tests students on spaceflight operations, engineering, and scientific research. Over several months, the teams prepared for each portion of the competition, which culminated in live challenges at the iconic Kennedy Space Center.

The Simulator Challenge was one of the most thrilling aspects of the competition, immersing students in the tension of a real space mission. Each six-member team was divided into two roles: flight crew and mission control. Together, they managed a simulated launch and landing of the space shuttle while overcoming unexpected crises. During the finals, the teams faced a dramatic scenario—a collision with space debris causing a fire in the payload bay and an oxygen leak. With only seconds to react, the students worked together to diagnose problems, communicate solutions, and ensure the safety of their mission. Their performance was broadcast live on a jumbotron at Kennedy Space Center, allowing spectators to witness their teamwork and problem-solving skills under pressure.

In the Landing Challenge, students demonstrated their piloting abilities using a specialized simulator. The teams were split into pairs, with each pair navigating a unique and challenging landing scenario. One pair was tasked with a night landing, where they had to rely solely on their instruments in complete darkness. Another pair faced an instruments-only landing, simulating a scenario where visibility was lost due to system failures. The final pair encountered an emergency runway landing, testing their ability to adapt under unpredictable conditions. With no room for error, the students had to make split-second decisions adjusting their approach for wind speeds, fuel levels, and altitude. The challenge mirrored the real-life pressures astronauts face during re-entry and landing.

The Engineering Challenge pushed students’ problem-solving and teamwork skills to the limit. This year’s theme took them to the surface of Mars, where they worked to complete a simulated rover mission. The team was split into two groups. The ground crew, acting as astronauts on Mars, operated a rover to collect and analyze geological samples. Meanwhile, the orbiting crew, simulating astronauts in a spacecraft above Mars, provided navigation assistance, technical support, and weather updates to help the ground team succeed. The engineering challenge, which changes every year, is designed to test students’ ability to collaborate under pressure while solving complex, real-world problems. Effective communication was crucial, as the orbiting crew had to relay information quickly to ensure the success of their teammates on the Martian surface.

The Design Challenge showcased the students’ scientific creativity and research skills. In October, teams were tasked with designing an experiment to explore the uses of Mars regolith, the soil found on the Martian surface. Over several months, the students developed a project to test the viability of using Mars regolith to create ceramics for electronic capacitors, a concept that could be crucial for developing sustainable technologies on Mars. The students not only designed the experiment but also created an infographic and presentation, which they delivered to a panel of judges, including engineers from the company that produced the Mars regolith simulant. The challenge emphasized not only scientific research but also effective communication and the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

The achievements of Lincoln High School and Lawton Chiles High School at the Student Astronaut Challenge are a testament to the strength of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Leon County Schools. Their success highlights the hard work, dedication, and passion of both the students and their teachers. Through challenges that required critical thinking, teamwork, and scientific innovation, these students demonstrated the skills essential for future careers in STEM. Their performance at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center not only earned them medals but also inspired pride across the district.

Congratulations to our outstanding students for their achievements and for representing Leon County Schools with excellence on such a prestigious stage.