A competition that bills itself as “the world’s first true rocket festival” will play host this week to students from across the country—and others watching via the Internet.
The X-Prize Cup, a competition in its second year that brings together private designers of space technology, will take place in Las Cruces, N.M., Oct. 20-21. As many as 6,000 students are expected to attend the event. Teachers who sign up their classes get a teachers’ guide and student workbooks on the history and future of space exploration; other information is available online.
For students who attend in person, there will be displays and demonstrations of equipment, and presentations from experts in astronomy. The event also includes various competitions sponsored by NASA, in which private manufacturers of space equipment compete for up to $2 million in prizes. The X-Prize Cup is sponsored by the X-Prize Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes space exploration through private entrepreneurship, and the state of New Mexico.
Those who can’t attend can watch both days via a live Webcast, at www.xprizecup.com. Teacher and student guides and other educational materials are available at www.xprizecup.com/education.php?sub=education_resources.
