NASA Announces Semifinalists for Power to Explore Challenge

### Fast Summary
– NASA announced the 45 semifinalists for its 2024-2025 “Power to Explore Challenge,” a K-12 student essay competition focused on radioisotope power systems (RPS).
– The contest encourages students to learn about RPS, which are nuclear-powered systems enabling exploration of harsh regions in space.
– Participants wrote essays imagining their own RPS-powered missions to explore moons in the solar system and applied their personal strengths (“superpowers”) to achieve the mission goals.
– A record-breaking 2,051 entries were submitted from all U.S. states and territories, including U.S. Virgin islands and DoDEA Overseas schools. Every student received a digital certificate, wiht over 4,859 participants attending the “Power Up with NASA” virtual event featuring NASA experts like Carl Sandifer II and Dr. Wanda Peters.
– Fifteen semifinalists were selected from three grade categories (K-4, 5-8, and 9-12), totaling 45 national semifinalists who will receive a prize pack.- Final results of the challenge will be announced on April 23.

### Indian Opinion Analysis
NASA’s initiative highlights its commitment to engaging future generations worldwide in space exploration through creative educational programs like the Power to Explore Challenge.By focusing on radioisotope power systems-the backbone of vital scientific missions-NASA successfully underscores advancements in clean energy technologies applicable even beyond Earth.For India-a growing participant in global space research-this model of outreach presents an chance for mutual learning and collaboration regarding youth education programs that nurture curiosity about lunar or planetary exploration powered by enduring technology solutions like nuclear energy frameworks evident here.indian scientific bodies such as ISRO could adapt similar methods of grassroots engagement fostering awareness among school-level innovators amplifying tomorrow’s tech/astronomy talent pools paving avenues adding crucial External dimension Science diplomacy niche advantage globally Resoundingly profitable broader equity matches Southasia-scholarship narratives stakeholdersadopt??.

[Read More](https://science.nasa.gov/technology/rps/nasa-reveals-semifinalists-of-power-to-explore-challenge/)