This article put writer Maggie Haslam in a 75-pound space suit as the first human to test-drive a $500,000 lunar rover prototype on a moonlike surface. Her first-person account of the adventure was a highly engaging way to tell the story of University of Maryland graduate engineering students’ three-year effort to build the vehicle for NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission. It also served to promote UMD’s research collaborations with nearby NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Published on the University of Maryland's news site and in a shorter form in Terp magazine, it (and the hilarious photo of her behind the wheel) drew impressed and amused feedback on social media, like: “Does that thing pop wheelies?”
From the Judges
We collectively appreciated the reporter’s commitment to following the project over an extended period. It was an admirable piece—infused with humor and vision—making for an enjoyable read.
