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Project Progress

Students in grades 5-12 across the United States learned about two hypothetical missions to Titan and Europa, watched introductory videos on astrobiology of Titan and Europa and engineering challenges of each potential mission, conducted further independent research, and wrote essays about which mission they would want NASA to pursue. Astrobiologists on the Titan and Icy Worlds NAI teams read and judged the essays and selected the winning essays. Winners and their classes participated in two one-hour-long videoconference question and answer sessions with NASA astrobiologists. Teachers whose students participated in the essay contest completed a survey to improve best practices for future NASA contests. The contest winners and their essays can be seen here: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/naititan/contest/winners/