Pleasanton Students Defeat 100+ Teams In National Mission To Mars Contest

PLEASANTON, CA — Foothill High School students beat more than 100 teams nationwide to win the national Lockheed Martin Mission to Mars Challenge, a competition that asks students to design solutions supporting a future human presence on Mars.

The Foothill team developed a modular nuclear power system designed for deployment on Martian surface prior to human arrival, with the ability to scale alongside a growing colony. Students worked with Lockheed Martin mentor engineers to refine their designs and presentations.

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After the proposal was shortlisted among five finalists, Foothill students presented to a panel of Lockheed Martin engineers and executives, and were named the overall winner. As part of the award, the students were invited to attend national Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama this summer, with all expenses covered by Lockheed Martin.

“This was an incredible opportunity for our students to apply their learning to a real-world challenge and engage directly with industry professionals,” said Foothill engineering teacher Gary Johnson. “They demonstrated exceptional dedication, technical skill, and the ability to think creatively about complex challenges.”

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