Zero Robotics
“Zero Robotics is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites) inside the International Space Station. The competition starts online, on this website, where teams program the SPHERES to solve an annual challenge. After several phases of virtual competition in a simulation environment that mimics the real SPHERES, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the ISS. An astronaut will conduct the championship competition in microgravity with a live broadcast.”
How cool is that?
How do I get started? Look here: Zero Robotics.
How do I expand this narrative arc? If robotics is part of your narrative arc you might consider one of the many national robotics competitions, each of which involves different rules, parameters and prizes. For example:
Build something socially useful in the Firefighting Robot Competition
There are also some interesting marine-based robotics programs where individuals and teams compete to build remotely operated vehicles to explore underwater environments.