NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above: NASA Dryden engineer and robotics team mentor Dave Voracek with his son Brad during unveiling of Lancaster High School's entry in the FIRST robotics competition. NASA photo / Tom Tschida

Image above: Lancaster High robotics team member Brad Voracek outlines details of his school's FIRST competition robot to members of the Tehachapi High School robotics team. NASA photo / Tom Tschida

NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center is sponsoring two high school teams and assisting a third entered in the 2008 robotics competition sponsored by For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST.

Lancaster High School's robotics team recently unveiled their 2008 robot, "The Phantom" that will compete in San Diego March 7 and 8. It will again show its strength in Los Angeles on March 21 and 22. The first local team selected to receive support from NASA Dryden in 2000, the Lancaster High team is a mentor for other FIRST robotics and middle school Lego League competition teams in the Antelope Valley of Southern California.

NASA Dryden also sponsors the Tehachapi High School robotics team. Their robot, "Cyber Tux 2.0," debuted Feb. 18 and will also participate in the San Diego competition as well as another in Las Vegas March 27-29. Dryden contactor Arcata Associates also sponsors the Tehachapi team.

Antelope Valley High in Lancaster is participating in the FIRST robotics program for the first time this year. The school's team, the Robolopes, received a NASA start-up grant and displayed their robot "Sisyphus" Feb. 14.