What is the future of space exploration like? At the first Robot World Championships in Houston in 2025, NASA offers first-hand views to student robotics teams and industry leaders – a real conversation with moon rovers, robotic weapons and about shaping the next era of discovery.
NASA works directly with Artemis Generation to contact more than 55,000 students and 75,000 parents and tutors. Through interactive exhibitions and discussions, students explore the institution’s robotics, learn about STEM career paths and internships, and gain an in-depth look at NASA’s bold vision for the future. Many people expressed interest in internships and dreamed that one day would help NASA's mission to explore the interests of all humanity.
Several NASA centers participated in the event, including the Johnson Space Center in Houston; the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; the Langley Research Center in Virginia; the Ames Research Center in California; the Michoud rally facility in New Orleans; the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California; the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland; the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; and the Katherine Johnson independent verification and verification facility in West Virginia. Everyone brings unique technology and expertise to the exhibition building.
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"These demonstrations can help students see themselves in the mission of NASA and the next boundary of Lunar Exploration," said Andrew Knotts, a Johnson public affairs expert. "They can describe their future as part of a team to shape the way we live and work in space."
Since its first advance to Houston in 2017, NASA has coached more than 250 robotic teams every year and supports elementary schools through high school students. The agency continues this tradition at this year’s event and celebrates the fusion of science, engineering and creativity that defines robotics and space exploration.
Local students also have the opportunity to learn about the Texas High School Aviation Scholars Program, which designs space tasks and solves engineering challenges for Texas High School students hands-on experience, an early portal to NASA’s exploration of the world.
By the end of the game, students and mentors have begun to look forward to the next season and are attracted by new ideas, strengthening friendships and dreams of future missions.
"It was a real honor to represent NASA for many inspiring students, educators and mentors," said Jeanette Snyder, an aerospace system engineer at Gateway. "I was a real honor to represent NASA students not long ago, and I was still using the skills developed by the first robotics technology in my work as a NASA engineer. Seeing the excitement about engineering and technology has made me optimistic about the future of space exploration. I can't wait to see these students become the next generation of NASA engineers and world changers."
With the enthusiastic support of volunteers, mentors, sponsors and industry leaders, and NASA's commitment to STEM advocacy, the future explores is a bold, capable hand.
See the full activity in the panoramic video below.