SNOHOMISH—Valley View Middle School student, 8th-grader Maggie Hou, is one of three winners of NASA’s 2024-2025 Explore Writing Challenge – an essay competition for K-12 students on how radioisotope power systems can enable space travel.
This year’s essay competition asked students to learn about NASA’s radioisotope power systems (RPS), which are like nuclear batteries and have been used by the space agency to discover moonquakes on Earth’s Moon as well as explore more than 891 moons on the solar system. Students were then tasked to write, in 275 words or less, a unique exploration mission to one of these moons using RPS.
“I’m so impressed by the creativity and knowledge of our Power to Explore winners,” said Carl Sandifer II, program manager of the Radioisotope Power Systems Program at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. “Congratulations to the amazing champions and all of the participants! You inspire me and make me even more optimistic about the future of America’s leadership in space.”
Entries were divided into three groups based on grade level and a winner was chosen from each. The three winners were then invited out for a VIP tour of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
The other two winners were Terry Xu from Arcadia, California, in the kindergarten through fourth grade category, and Kairat Otorov from Trumbull, Connecticut, in the ninth through 12th grade category.
Hou first heard about the writing challenge from her science teacher, she said. Her essay’s thesis centered around utilizing a radioisotope-powered spacecraft to Mimas (Saturn’s smallest and innermost moon) to search for conditions favorable for life.
“I settled on Mimas because I believe that the moon is under-researched and overlooked and I hope to draw more attention to it,” said Hou.
Hou had already learned about RPS in class, she informed the Lynnwood Times but also utilized the education resources provided on the Future Engineers website for additional information. She said she had no interest in space exploration before entering the contest but learned everything she needed to win the contest within the submission window.
“My favorite thing about space is its vastness. There are so many mysteries waiting to be solved, and we don’t even know what we don’t know! I hope that in my lifetime, we will finally discover life beyond Earth,” said Hou.
She submitted her essay on February 9. The semi finalists were announced on March 21, the finalists were announced on April 23, and the winners were announced on May 7.
Hou first got the call that she won, from a spokesperson working at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, around 6:30 a.m. on May 7, just before she was about to catch the bus to school.
“I was totally thrilled, overjoyed, and in disbelief,” said Hou.
Hou has not yet embarked on her trip to Cleveland to visit NASA’s Glenn Research Center but, when she does, it will be her first time visiting Cleveland. Though NASA is still finalizing the prize trip dates it appears as if it may be sometime this August.
Hou will also be attending a virtual meeting with two NASA associates, Carl Sandifer, Program Manager, Radioisotope Power Systems Program, and Dr. Jim Green, retired NASA Chief Scientist, on June 2, which she is looking forward to.
“Having my hard work recognized gave me a boost of confidence and motivation, and I would encourage everyone to participate in this challenge,” said Hou. “Regardless of who wins, this challenge provides an invaluable opportunity to share your ideas and love for space with experts at NASA.”
Hou’s favorite subject in school is algebra, she told the Lynnwood Times. She’s also an avid volleyball player, serving as captain for the Washington Volleyball Academy (WVBA), as well as the captain and MVP for her Middle School’s team.
Hou is also a black belt in taekwondo, loves to snowboard, run cross country, and play musical instruments in her free time. She hopes to one day to attend college at Yale and work at McKinsey as a management consultant.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
