NESSP Concludes Successful ROADS from Earth to Venus Challenge, Empowering Student-Led Space Exploration

The Northwest Earth and Space Science Pathways (NESSP) project successfully wrapped up its 2025–2026 ROADS (Rover Observation And Discoveries in Space) from Earth to Venus National Challenge, a NASA Science Activation initiative that immersed over 500 students from 120 teams across eight states in hands-on science and engineering experiences centered on Venus exploration.

The program launched with educator training in August 2025, equipping teachers and mentors to guide participants through the ROADS curriculum. Over the academic year, teams advanced through structured checkpoints from January to May 2026, with in-person Hub events in April and May offering students platforms to present projects, network with peers, and engage in NASA-themed STEM activities.

Based at Central Washington University, NESSP fosters connections between students, educators, and NASA science through experiential learning. The ROADS framework tasks upper elementary, middle, and high school students with collaborative, mission-based activities reflecting real-world NASA methodologies for planetary research and exploration.

During the challenge, teams tackled eight Mission Objectives spanning science, engineering, teamwork, and communication. Participants documented progress in Mission Development Logs, designed patches, modeled carbon dynamics on Earth and Venus, studied greenhouse effects, gathered remote sensing data via kite-mounted cameras, programmed rovers for terrain navigation, explored STEM careers, and shared final projects through virtual and in-person presentations.

Regional Hub events at Central Washington University, Montana State University, and Northern Arizona University allowed teams to demonstrate their work, collaborate with peers, and interact with mentors, fostering a sense of belonging within a broader STEM community.

“The ROADS Challenge enables students to go beyond learning about NASA—they become integral to the mission itself,” said Dr. Darci Snowden, NESSP Director. “This year’s participants embraced a diverse set of objectives, from carbon cycle modeling to rover programming, driven by curiosity and a passion for discovery. Through authentic challenges, teamwork, and knowledge-sharing, they gain the confidence and skills to envision themselves as future scientists, engineers, and explorers.”

Top-performing teams were honored in elementary, middle, and high school categories for exceptional engagement and log quality. Elementary winners included The Evil Twins, The Acid Clouds, Flaming Asteroid Nebulas, and The NASA Intelligence (all from Silverdale, Washington). Middle school champions were Venus Ascenders (Mukilteo, WA), Project Fuego Venus (Safford, AZ), Galaxy Dragons (Sequim, WA), The Four Folds (Hardin, MT), and Crater Lake Crusaders (Medford, OR). High school accolades went to Laborantem (Columbus, MT), Velocity to Venus (Sequim, WA), Puget Sound Propulsion (Mukilteo, WA), and Evergreen Explorers (Mukilteo, WA).

Event highlights and presentations are available via the ROADS from Earth to Venus Virtual Recognition Ceremony on the NESSP YouTube channel (@nwessp). Educational resources and past challenge materials remain accessible at www.nwessp.org.

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