Scientist Spotlight: Aaron Yazzie—Engineering for Planetary Exploration

About this adventure

This Scientist Spotlight at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum features Aaron Yazzie, a Navajo mechanical engineer who has helped design and support NASA tools that collect and handle samples on other planets. The family program turns his work into hands-on questions: how do you pick up, store and study material from another world, and what problems must engineers solve when a robot is doing the work millions of miles away? Families rotate through activity stations that introduce the engineering behind planetary sample acquisition, take on a STEAM design challenge, explore the galleries with a themed scavenger hunt and make a take-home activity inspired by the testing and problem-solving behind space missions. The museum recommends it for all ages. It is included with admission or membership; supplies are limited and handed out first come, first served, and the page has an RSVP button.