Scientist Spotlight: Aaron Yazzie—Engineering for Planetary Exploration

This Scientist Spotlight highlights the work of Aaron Yazzie, a Navajo mechanical engineer whose career includes designing and supporting tools used in NASA planetary exploration—especially the systems that help collect and handle samples on other worlds. This family-friendly program connects real engineering to big questions about space: How do you pick up, store, and study material from another planet? What challenges do engineers have to solve when a robot is doing the work millions of miles away?

Visitors can rotate through hands-on activity stations that introduce engineering concepts tied to planetary sample acquisition, take on a STEAM design challenge, and explore the museum with a themed scavenger hunt. Participants will also create a take-home activity inspired by the tools, testing, and problem-solving that make space exploration possible.

Recommended for all ages.

Included with museum admission or membership. Supplies are limited; first come, first served.