It's an exciting time for educators and students. Before the end of the next decade, NASA astronauts will return to the moon. This time, they're planning to stay -- building outposts and paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond. Today's students will be tomorrow's explorers. How will space exploration benefit their lives in the future?

That's the question asked by a new NASA competition for students ages 11-18. The first NASA 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition challenges students to create unique audio and video podcasts. The topic: How will space exploration benefit your life in the future?

Running from Sept. 1 through Oct. 10, 2006, this competition is open to United States citizens. Students are grouped into two age divisions: 11-14 and 15-18. Each division will have two separate categories: audio podcast and video podcast. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each category and age group. An additional "People's Choice Award" will honor one podcast for each age division.

Students may choose to create several podcasts, but only one entry may be submitted for each person. More details and the entry form can be found at the 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition Web site. Students under 18 need written consent from a parent or guardian.

All work needs to be original. Any use of copyrighted material will disqualify the entry.

The competition began on Sept. 1, 2006, and ends after the first 1,000 entries are submitted in each category or at midnight on Oct. 10, 2006, whichever comes first.

Winners will be announced at the 2nd Space Exploration Conference in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2006.

So students should grab their thinking caps and peer into their futures. This is a wonderful opportunity to take a close look at where space exploration may take 21st Century explorers!

Through this project, NASA continues its tradition of investing in the nation's education. It is directly tied to the agency's major education goal of attracting and retaining students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. To compete effectively for the minds, imaginations and career ambitions of America’s young people, NASA is focused on engaging and retaining students in education efforts that encourage their pursuit of disciplines critical to NASA's future engineering, scientific and technical missions.

Related Resources

• 2nd Space Exploration Conference
• The Vision for Space Exploration
• 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition Web site