NASA Build Better Space Technology: is currently hosting a number of Challenges in order to build better space technology that can be used by humans on future missions. The RACER (Reusable Advances in Composite Reinforcement) challenge is one of these projects. This article gives an overview of the RACER Challenge, what it’s looking for, and how to participate if you have a great idea!
What is NASA doing?
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is challenging teams of technology developers to build better space technology. The goal of the Technology Demonstration Challenge (TDC) is to develop innovative solutions for common challenges in space technology, including advanced manufacturing techniques, autonomous systems and machine learning.
“Space technology has come a long way in recent decades, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said JPL Director Michael Drake. “The TDC is an opportunity to advance our understanding of how best to use these advances and make progress on some of the biggest challenges facing space exploration.”
The challenge is divided into four categories: advanced manufacturing techniques; autonomy; machine learning; and planetary exploration. Teams are required to submit a proposal for each category by March 31st, 2019. The top six proposals in each category will be select as winners and will receive financial support from NASA to continue developing their ideas.
One team participating in the TDC is call Ribbit Labs. They are focus on developing robots that can autonomously explore uncharte territory in the solar system. “[Our robots] would help us explore new planets much more quickly and efficiently than what we’re doing now,” said Ribbit Labs co-founder Stephen Rossignol.
The Challenge
NASA is challenging teams of students to come up with better technology for space exploration. The agency is asking students to design tools that could help astronauts explore other planets and moons, as well as improve our understanding of Earth’s environment. The challenge is open to high school students in the United States and Canada. Teams can work on their own or join forces with others to get the most out of the competition.
The NASA Challenge will challenge teams of students and professionals to come up with innovative space technology ideas that can help NASA achieve its goals. Teams will have two months to come up with a technology solution, and the top three teams will be flown to Washington, D.C. for the final competition in May 2019.
The NASA Challenge is inspire by the Apollo era where America was first to land men on the moon. The goal of the Challenge is to inspire young minds with new space technology ideas. That can help us explore farther into our universe and protect our planet from harmful space debris.
Some of the technologies that teams can come up with include advance spacecraft design, reusable rockets, asteroid mining, and more. The possibilities are endless, so make sure your team comes up with something truly innovative!
Criteria for Evaluation
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is challenging teams of students to build better space technology. The NASA Young Engineers Competition (NEXT) is a nationwide competition in which teams of students from high school and college compete to design, build. And test a prototype space technology invention.
To be eligible for the NEXT challenge. An invention must be a space innovation that has not been develop before by any other team. The invention can be something as simple as a new way to launch satellites into orbit or it could be something more complex. Such as a new spacecraft design that could improve the efficiency of space exploration.
Teams have three months to design and build their invention. Afterward, they have six months to test it and submit their results to NASA. The top teams from each region will then travel to NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton. Virginia, for the FINAL round of competition where they will demonstrate their inventions live in front of judges.
The FIRST prize for the BEST IN SHOW category at the NEXT challenge will be $25,000 while the SECOND prize will be $15,000. The third place team will receive $10,000 and fourth place team will receive $5,000. There are also four additional awards which include: Best Technical Paper Award ($2,500). Best Video Award ($2,500), Best Student Team Award ($3,000), and Most Inspiring Innovation Award ($5,000).
Breaking Down the Criteria
NASA has set a challenge for the technology community to build better space technology. The agency is looking for new ways to reduce the cost of space missions and improve efficiency. A key part of this challenge is finding better ways to use resources in space. One way to do this is to develop more efficient spacecraft designs. Another area that needs improvement is the management of resources on Earth.
The challenge also focuses on developing better strategies for using data from space missions. This data can help researchers study the environment and conditions outside of our planet. Finally, NASA is looking for new ways to protect astronauts and equipment during space missions.