Physicist Stan Starr works with a magnetic sphere in a laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Physicists Bob Youngquist, left, and Stan Starr work with hollow and solid metal spheres in a laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida where they are helping formulate principles of magnetic forces to see how they might be applied to spaceflight.

Physicists Stan Starr, left, and Bob Youngquist of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida work through part of an equation as they research elements of formulas showing how magnetic forces can be used in space for a variety of purposes.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Beach House, Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr. greets Ellen Feeney, wife of Congressman Tom Feeney. Between them is Stan Starr, with Dynamac Corp. During January and February, Congressman Feeney traveled the entire coastline of Florida’s 24th District, and concluded his walks March 1 in Brevard County. On his walks, he met with constituents and community leaders to discuss legislative issues that will be addressed by the 108th Congress.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Beach House, Congressman Tom Feeney (right) talks with Glenn Vera (left), with Florida Spaceport Authority, and Stan Starr (center), with Dynamac Corp. During January and February, Congressman Feeney traveled the entire coastline of Florida’s 24th District, and concluded his walks March 1 in Brevard County. On his walks, he met with constituents and community leaders to discuss legislative issues that will be addressed by the 108th Congress.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Beach House, Congressman Tom Feeney (center) relaxes after his walk on Brevard County’s beach north of the launch pads. With him are William Sample (left), president of Space Gateway Support at KSC; Stan Starr, with Dynamac Corp.; Lisa Malone, director of External Affairs at KSC; and Jim Hattaway, associate director of KSC. During January and February, Congressman Feeney traveled the entire coastline of Florida’s 24th District, and concluded his walks March 1 in Brevard County. On his walks, he met with constituents and community leaders to discuss legislative issues that will be addressed by the 108th Congress.

Stan Starr, branch chief for Applied Physics in the Exploration Research and Technology Programs, is interviewed on-camera by Sarah McNulty, with the Communication and Public Engagement Directorate, during NASA's 8th Annual Robotic Mining Competition at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. More than 40 student teams from colleges and universities around the U.S. used their uniquely-designed mining robots to dig in a supersized sandbox filled with BP-1, or simulated Martian soil, and participated in other competition requirements, May 22-26. The Robotic Mining Competition is a NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate project designed to encourage students in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM fields. The project provides a competitive environment to foster innovative ideas and solutions that could be used on NASA's Journey to Mars.