AFRL program helps 1,000 students simulate life on Mars Published April 21, 2016 By Kirtland PA AFRL New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- More than 1,000 fifth graders from more than 40 New Mexico schools will take part in one of the state's premier Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics events this week--the Air Force Research Laboratory's Mission to Mars. The event will take place April 22 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Students have spent the last several months learning about Mars and what it would take to support life on the red planet. During Mission to Mars, students will take what they've learned and simulate a visit to Mars. They will work in teams to build suitable habitats and life support systems and give technical briefings about their systems to AFRL scientists and engineers. Mission to Mars is part of AFRL's La Luz Academy which provides STEM education to students in fifth through 12th grade around New Mexico. It is one of the academy's most popular and long-running programs. Over the past 22 years, more than 18,000 New Mexico students have taken part in simulating life on Mars. For more information, please contact Ronda Cole at (505) 401-5456. MEDIA AVAILABILITY WHAT: AFRL La Luz Academy Mission to Mars WHEN: Friday, April 22, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (best visuals between 11a.m.-1p.m.) WHERE: Albuquerque Convention Center Eastside Exhibit Hall Follow us on twitter at @AFRLMarsMission, #MarsMission ###