As many of you know, I'm a big space geek. I love anything to do with the exploration of the cosmos. With the upcoming launch of Artemis II and a return to the moon, we thought we would connect FIRST to NASA to Black History Month.

Black astronauts with engineering and robotics skills have changed how we explore space, and their journeys connect powerfully to what students do in the FIRST Robotics Competition program. Their success shows that the same problem-solving, coding, and teamwork used to build FRC robots are the skills needed to design real spacecraft and keep astronauts safe in space.

Astronauts like Mae Jemison, Leland Melvin, Victor Glover, Stephanie Wilson, and Robert Curbeam all used strong engineering skills on missions in space. They operated robotic arms, helped assemble the space station, and solved tough technical problems, just like FRC teams brainstorm, prototype, and debug their designs under pressure. When our students see these leaders, it sends a clear message: the ideas you test on your robot today can lead to real missions above Earth tomorrow.

As NASA prepares for Artemis missions to the moon and future trips to Mars, Black engineers in astronaut corps will keep playing key roles, just as Black students and mentors are driving innovation on FRC teams right now. Black History month is the perfect time to highlight these connections, celebrate the impact of Black innovators, and invite more students to become builders, coders, and leaders.