​â¶Ä‹â€‹â¶Ä‹SAN JOSE, CA – On Friday, August 11, middle school students in Santa Clara County will join pupils from across the United States and Russia at the NASA Research Park​ to compete in the national finals for the "Zero Robotics International Space Station Programming Challenge."
National Geographic will film the event for part of a documentary tentatively titled, "Zero Gravity," which follows students from Campbell Middle School throughout the five-week Zero Robotics Summer program.
Campbell Middle School students will join Santa Clara County students from Gallant Academy, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and others from across the state to represent California in this National Competition. During the competition, astronaut Jack Fisher will control satellites aboard the International Space Station with computer code written by the students.
"National Geographic has elevated the interest in Zero Robotics and summer learning in general. This documentary will highlight how summer programming can look very different from traditional summer school. It can still be academic, and fun too! This opportunity has expanded their horizons quite literally," said Mara Wold Regional Lead, Region 5 Expanded Learning Partnerships, Monterey County Office of Education.
The competition is the culminating event of a five-week summer school program where students learn computer programming, robotics, and space engineering, and get hands-on experience programming robotic SPHERES (Synchronized, Position, Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites).
"This has been a huge opportunity for teams to come together," said Wold. "They collaborate, create, and strengthen the winning code."
WHEN: 7-10:30 a.m., Friday, August 11.
WHERE: NASA Research Park Ames Moffett Blvd, Building/Conference Rm 152, Mountain View, CA 94035.
Government issued ID is required to enter NASA Research Park gates to public area research park.
​FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Zero Robotics website.
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