TMCnet News
University Students Present Ideas to Shed Light on Unexplored Areas of the MoonWASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- University students from across the United States will present their innovative concepts for lunar payloads that could be used to help NASA explore previously uncharted areas on the Moon. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will kick off the Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge virtual forum Jan. 6 at 10:30 a.m. EST. NASA will announce the team awards Jan. 11. Presentations by the finalist teams will be livestreamed Jan. 6-7 and available to view after the event. The teams presenting, and their technology concepts are:
NASA selected the finalist teams and awarded funds of almost $1 million to develop their concepts and technologies, including ways to collect data in and around permanently shadowed regions on the Moon, generate wireless power for future infrastructure, enable autonomous mobility even in the most extreme environments, and more. Such systems could benefit NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program by helping study the Moon ahead of a human landing or establish a sustained presence. To provide realistic design parameters, students were required to design their concepts based on the lunar surface delivery capabilities of the commercial lunar lander providers. The 2020 BIG Idea Challenge is sponsored by NASA through a collaboration between the Space Technology Mission Directorate's Game Changing Development program and the Office of STEM Engagement's Space Grant and Fellowship project. The challenge is managed by the National Institute of Aerospace. For the livestream agenda, visit: To view the team's digital posters, visit: http://bigidea.nianet.org/competition-basics/2020-forum-results/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-students-present-ideas-to-shed-light-on-unexplored-areas-of-the-moon-301200385.html SOURCE NASA |