Mars Yard: Martian Terrain and Robotics Laboratory at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute

In May, the Space Foundation unveiled a simulated Martian terrain and robotics laboratory at its Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs. Students at the adjacent Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy were the first to use the Mars Yard this spring; next school year, the Mars Yard will be available to all Colorado Springs School District 11 (D-11) students; and, after that, it will be open to other school districts. Teachers enrolled in the Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum course "Space Technologies in the Classroom" July 18-22 will be the first group of educators to use the Mars Yard. Part of the Space Foundation's mission is to build a better, stronger workforce for the future to support space exploration and utilization. Information is available at: www.spacefoundation.org/education