NASA Administrator, and Oklahoma native, Jim Bridenstine will be available to speak to media Saturday, March 9, at the FIRST Robotics Competition Oklahoma Regional in Oklahoma City.

The competition is taking place at the Cox Convention Center Arena, located at One Myriad Gardens. Bridenstine will deliver opening and closing remarks for the day’s events, and announce competition winners at 4:35 p.m. CST near the Competition Pit, after which he will host a media availability. 

To participate in the availability, media must RSVP by 9 a.m. March 9, with Matt Rydin at matthew.m.rydin@nasa.gov. 

Bridenstine’s opening remarks will air live at about 9:30 a.m. EST (8:30 a.m. CST) on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

This year’s FIRST Robotics Competition, Destination: Deep Space, challenges participating teams to remotely operate their robots to collect samples on a fictitious planet, combatting unpredictable terrain and weather patterns. Student teams from local school districts and four surrounding states will participate in the Oklahoma Regional. 

NASA’s Robotics Alliance Project supports the FIRST Robotics Competition by providing grants to high school teams and sponsoring FIRST regional competitions. Robotics play a major part in NASA’s exploration off Earth, including on Mars.For information about NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, visit: 

https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-administrator-bridenstine