Students' mission rewarded with trip to Florida

Thompson Falls High School (TFHS) students have immersed themselves in the world of science and have spent the last several months solving and creating solutions to the ROADS National NASA student challenge. TFHS science teacher Doree Thilmony and her students entered into a nationwide competition called Artemis ROADS (Rover Observation and Drone Survey).

Artemis ROADS is a grant funded program through Montana State University (MSU) and Northwest Earth and Space Pathways Program that allows students the opportunity to explore STEM concepts through hands-on activities. Thilmony says ROADS takes inspiration through real NASA projects and guides students on a space-related mission.

"The mission for this year was a trip back to the moon," Thilmony said. "Later this decade, NASA is planning to take 12 astronauts, the first female and the first African American, to the moon. They plan on trying to live on the moon for at least six days, gathering information into rovers and drones around the South Pole of the moon."

The students created a mission development log where they recorded all of their tests, failures, accomplishments, and all other experiences with the project. Thilmony said the missions included moon observation, investigation of the South Pole of the moon's terrain, closed system models and data collection for life in a closed system, packing a moon kit of personal items, if they themselves were to go to the moon and calculating the cost for shipping. The students used an engineering design process to develop a wheel for a lunar rover and operated a drone to simulate the Artemis trajectory around the earth and moon. Finally, the students programmed robots that could be capable of driving on the challenging lunar surface.

Three teams from TFHS entered the competition and competed against 38 other Montana schools and over 400 schools nationwide. Two teams advanced and went to Bozeman to compete at the next level. Team Big Dippers, Carson Bedard, TJ Schlaible and Aidan Rich; and team Astraeus, Carter Marquardt, Jeremy Fausett and Rowan Ackley. "Since the students reached the status needed for a competitive run at the contest, they were invited to a HUB event at MSU where they presented their project with other Montana schools last month," Thilmony said.

Team Astraeus was one of two special winning teams in Montana who rose to the challenge at the end of the day. The two teams each won a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which is funded through the Northwest Earth and Space Pathways Program grant and will take place August 8-11.

"It has been a lot of fun and the students have learned so much, not only about the moon but how to overcome failures, learn from them, build resilience and enjoy success when things go right," Thilmony said.