Last summer, Aanshi Shah and her family got a telescope. Aanshi, eager to learn what all she could see with it, constantly browsed the NASA website.
The Future Engineers Artemis Moon Pod essay contest prompted writers to imagine leading a one-week expedition to the moon's south pole. Writers were asked to explain what types of skills they would bring to their crew as well as what piece of technology they would leave on the moon for future astronauts.
Aanshi's essay was selected as one of the three finalists in the grades 5 through 8 group. About 14,000 students nationwide entered the contest between three age groups: K-4, 5-8 and 9-12.
Aanshi said she went to the Broomfield Library looking for essay inspiration after she didn't have much luck online. "I was about to leave empty-handed, but I saw they were growing veggies in a vertical aeroponic system, and I read more about it and I thought it was a really nice system," she said. "I thought I should include this in my essay. And that's how I built up my team."
Inspired by the solar-powered vertical aeroponic farm, Aanshi got to work. She explained in her essay she would bring a botanist, a hydrogeologist, a solar energy engineer and a physician — each holding an important role in her goal of leaving a source of food and water for future visitors. The physician, she said, would study the physical and mental effects of the longest stay on the moon to date.
As part of making it to the top three, Aanshi won a trip to the Johnson Space Center to learn about lunar exploration. Aanshi said making it to the top three was her first goal — she's always wanted to go to the Johnson Space Center.
"My first reaction was, 'Yes!'" Aanshi said as she threw her hands in the air. "The second was screaming and running into my parent's bedroom, like, 'Yes!' ... I'm just happy to see my name and think, wow, I beat all those people. They had great efforts, but there's still more to do."
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