About the Course
Sojourner, Spirit, and Opportunity—robots sent by NASA to explore Mars—all outlasted their missions but were ultimately bested by the planet’s harsh conditions. Sojourner lost its base station, Spirit got stuck in the planet’s soil, and Opportunity fell prey to a dust storm. With Curiosity still sending selfies from Mars—and Perseverance, which landed there in 2021, still going strong—human space knowledge is benefiting immensely from the scientific work of robots. But how does one design a robot that can survive the red planet while gathering important information? In this course, we'll explore this question while learning programming concepts such as the use of conditionals, variables, functional decomposition, abstraction, and flow control. We will also apply this knowledge while constructing and programming a robot to complete Mars-specific challenges like autonomous maneuvering for retrieving objects, as we gain fascinating insight into robotics in space.
The content in Roving Robots: Engineering for Space Missions on Mars overlaps with the CTY course Mission to Mars: Robotics in Space. Students who have already taken Mission to Mars: Robotics in Space may wish to consult with an enrollment advisor before enrolling in this course.
Learning Objectives
- Control a robot’s movements by using variables, events, and sensors
- Demonstrate understanding of logical operators by using them to control program flow
- Apply skills and concepts to the design and construction of robots that perform specific tasks
- Explain the challenges of and unique requirements for robots to operate in space and explore other planets
- Break down complex behaviors into smaller subroutines
About Advanced Enrichment courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges.
Requirements
CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.
Identification DetailsDates and Tuition
Online
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Days: Every Wed for 13 weeks
Times: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Register by: December 15, 2025
Time Commitment:
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set (Please note: the cost of this kit is approximately $400 USD)
Time commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 12 sessions over 12 weeks.
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Days: Every Wed for 13 weeks
Times: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Register by: February 17, 2026
Time Commitment:
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set (Please note: the cost of this kit is approximately $400 USD)
Time Commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 12 sessions over 12 weeks.
Registration Fee and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.
Learn more about Financial Aid