Students from the Academy for Computer & Information Sciences, located at the Morris County School of Technology in Denville, within the Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD), embarked on a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) journey this school year by participating in NASA’s App Development Challenge (ADC). The ADC, one of eight Artemis Student Challenges, is a coding challenge presenting students with technical problems seeking their contributions to deep space exploration missions.
The ADC is a part of the NASA Office of STEM Engagement Next Gen STEM Project and is led out of Johnson Space Center in Houston. This year’s challenge asked student teams to research and design a computer application to visualize Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The challenge is created in collaboration with NASA’s Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) team to support upcoming mission planning and training activities.
SCaN serves as the program office for all of NASA’s space communications activities, presently enabling the success of more than 100 NASA and non-NASA missions. SCaN manages the Near Space Network (NSN) and the Deep Space Network (DSN), ensuring the availability and allocation of the radiofrequency spectrum for all NASA programs. Additionally, SCaN supports the research and development of cutting-edge space communications technologies, such as optical and quantum communications, and is responsible for developing an integrated space communications and navigation architecture to support science and human exploration programs through 2040.
Throughout the 10-week challenge, which occurred Oct. 2-Dec. 11, 2024, students had the opportunity to engage with NASA coders and engineers through four live virtual events and weekly office hours. NASA scientists and engineers reviewed student video submissions and interviewed selected teams. Following interviews, top teams will be selected for a multiday culminating event at Johnson.
By accepting the ADC challenge, these Artemis Generation students from the Academy for Computer & Information Sciences are participating in NASA’s endeavors to land the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the Moon.
For additional information about the App Development Challenge visit their website:
www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/app-development-challenge/
For more on NASA’s Next Gen STEM, visit their website:
www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/for-educators/
For more information about NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) visit their website:
www.nasa.gov/directorates/space-operations/space-communications-and-navigation-scan-program/
For updates on social media, follow: #NASA_ADC
The Academy for Computer & Information Sciences is a rigorous Career & Technical Education (CTE) program that prepares students for success in post-secondary programs and careers related to the computer science field. Students in the Academy are provided with a comprehensive overview of computer programming, internet technology, computer architecture, history of computers, mathematics for programming, network security, and software engineering.
Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) offers a wide range of career and technical education programs that inspire and prepare students to succeed in today’s world and pursue tomorrow’s opportunities. An academy program of the Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) provides students in grades nine through twelve in-depth instruction in a specific career pathway. Students attend the academy program instead of their local high school unless the academy program is housed in their local high school. Students take their academy class each year along with the NJ State Department of Education’s academic requirements. All academy students receive a high school diploma from the Morris County Vocational School District, regardless of their academy location. Each academy has a unique academy course sequence and opportunities for internships and earning college credit. For more information visit www.mcvts.org.
