Paul van Susante, PSTDL Student Researchers Advance in NASA's Break the Ice Challenge
It's no surprise to see Huskies developing innovative solutions to both current and future problems. Case in point: A team of student researchers led by Assistant Professor Paul van Susante (ME-EM) will compete with five other teams in the final round of NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge.
From its inception in 2020, teams in this challenge have proposed robotic systems that can use resources found on the lunar surface in regolith (icy moon dust) to aid astronauts living on the moon.
"Excavating lunar regolith before humans arrive on the Moon will allow us to find uses for that material before they get there — if we could build a lunar habitat out of the regolith or extract the water for our astronauts to drink, that means less mass on our vehicles and less work for our crews," said Denise Morris, program manager for NASA's Centennial Challenges.
The six finalist teams will bring their prototypes to a NASA-designated test facility in spring 2024 for the final showdown. Their designs will be tested under reduced gravity and transportation over complex terrain — not unlike conditions found on the moon.
The first place team will receive a $1 million prize, with $500,000 going to the second place team. Teams can also be awarded testing time at one of NASA's Thermal Vacuum Chambers, which can simulate the temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions at the Lunar South Pole.
To learn more about the team's challenge journey, visit the Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics News blog and Michigan Tech's 2022 Research Magazine.
Congratulations to the team — we can't wait to see what's next!