Slingshots, catapults and launchers packed the outside mall area at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, on Friday, Dec. 4, as local middle- and high-school students, and JPL employees competed in the annual JPL Invention Challenge.
Twenty-three teams competed to create a device that could launch playground balls into three targets (shaped like the number 18 in honor of the 18th year of the competition) within 60 seconds.
Devices ranged from hand-operated catapults to motorized launchers with laser aiming, but it was some of the simplest designs that performed the best.
Content Strategist & Editor, NASA JPL Education
Kim Orr leads content strategy for the Education Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her work includes editing, writing, and design for the JPL Education website, social media channels, newsletter, and other digital communications platforms.
