{"id":614199,"date":"2024-02-29T15:01:38","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T20:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=614199"},"modified":"2024-02-29T15:15:05","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T20:15:05","slug":"student-teams-to-help-fill-the-inflatable-void-with-latest-student-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/student-teams-to-help-fill-the-inflatable-void-with-latest-student-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Teams to Help Fill the Inflatable Void with Latest Student Challenge \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">3 Min Read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStudent Teams to Help Fill the Inflatable Void with Latest Student Challenge \u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"Student Teams to Help Fill the Inflatable Void with Latest Student Challenge  \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 61% 84%; object-position: 61% 84%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This year will be a \u201cBIG\u201d year for several college and university teams as they research, design, and demonstrate novel inflatable systems configured for future lunar operations through a NASA-sponsored engineering competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasas-big-idea-challenge\/\">NASA\u2019s Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge<\/a> asked student innovators to propose novel inflatable component and system concepts that could benefit future <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/artemis\/\">Artemis missions<\/a> to the Moon and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/bigidea.nianet.org\/2024-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inflatable Systems for Lunar Operations<\/a> theme allowed teams to submit various technology concepts such as soft robotics, deployable infrastructure components, emergency shelters or other devices for extended extravehicular activities, pressurized tunnels and airlocks, and debris shields and dust protection systems. Inflatable systems could greatly reduce the mass and stowed volume of science and exploration payloads, critical for lowering costs to deep-space destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Award values vary between ~$100,000 and $150,000 and are based on each team\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/bigidea.nianet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-BIG-Idea-Finalist-Synopses.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/bigidea.nianet.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-BIG-Idea-Finalist-Synopses.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prototype<\/a> and budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>The 2024 BIG Idea Challenge awardees are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Arizona State University<\/strong><\/td><td>Tempe, Arizona<\/td><td><em>Aegis – Inflatable Lunar Landing Pad System<\/em><\/td><td>Advisors: Tyler Smith, Dr. James Bell, James Rice, Josh Chang<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Brigham Young University<\/strong> <\/td><td>Provo, Utah<\/td><td><em>Untethered and Modular Inflatable Robots for Lunar Operations<\/em><\/td><td>Advisors: Dr. Nathan Usevitch, Dr. Marc Killpack<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>California Institute of Technology, with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Cislune and VJ Technologies<\/strong><\/td><td>Pasadena, California<\/td><td><em>PILLARS: Plume-deployed Inflatable for Launch and Landing Abrasive Regolith<\/em> Shielding<\/td><td>Advisors: Dr. Soon-Jo Chung, Kalind Carpenter<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Northwestern University, with National Aerospace Corporation<\/strong><\/td><td>Evanston, Illinois <\/td><td><em>METALS: Metallic Expandable Technology for Artemis Lunar Structures<\/em><\/td><td>Advisors: Dr. Ian McCue, Dr. Ryan Truby<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>University of Maryland<\/strong> <\/td><td>College Park, Maryland<\/td><td><em>Auxiliary Inflatable Wheels for Lunar Rover<\/em><\/td><td>Advisor: Dr. David Akin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>University of Michigan<\/strong><\/td><td>Ann Arbor, Michigan<\/td><td><em>Cargo-BEEP (Cargo Balancing Expandable Exploration Platform)<\/em><\/td><td>Advisor: Dr. John Shaw<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once funded, finalist teams continue designing, building, and testing their concepts, which could lead to NASA innovations that augment technology currently in development. Work performed by the teams culminates in a final technical paper, prototype demonstration, and potential opportunity to present in front of a diverse panel of NASA and industry experts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a program affiliated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/lunar-surface-innovation-initiative\/\">NASA\u2019s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII)<\/a>, the BIG Idea Challenge incubates new ideas from the future workforce. Through the challenge, student teams aid LSII\u2019s mission to advance transformative capabilities for lunar surface exploration across NASA\u2019s Space Technology portfolio. <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center padding-y-3 maxw-full width-full display-flex flex-align-center hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-blockquote\"><div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block display-flex flex-column flex-justify-center padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:display-flex mobile:display-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-icon margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"tablet:square-4 square-4 margin-right-3\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 3000 3000\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 3000 3000;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"> <g> <path d=\"M586.7,1429.7c-10.7,1.5-21.4,2.8-33.9,4.5c6.9-26.6,12.7-50.7,19.5-74.6c32.4-114.1,78.5-222.2,146.8-319.5 c90.2-128.5,202.5-235.3,327.7-329.1c8.4-6.3,16.7-12.6,25.3-19.1c-66.3-105.1-131.5-208.6-197.3-313.1c-3.5,1.2-5.5,1.6-7.2,2.6 C714.4,469,576.1,575.7,456,705.3c-126,135.9-226.2,289.1-303,457.8c-98.8,217.1-151.3,444-147.2,683.3 c1.7,100.5,12.9,199.6,41.1,296.3C93.7,2303,182.2,2433,326.7,2520.1c176.9,106.7,366.8,126.8,563.4,70.5 c150.9-43.2,260.9-138.9,327.2-282.5c33.4-72.5,47.8-149.4,52-228.7c6.5-122.8-14.1-239.5-74.3-348.1 C1074.6,1514.5,832.7,1394.2,586.7,1429.7z\"><\/path><path d=\"M2912.5,1722c-129.9-210.9-320.2-309.4-567.9-296c-22.1,1.2-44,5.1-67.4,7.9c2.2-9.6,4-17.9,6.1-26.2 c37.9-153.6,99.3-296,198.8-420.5c77.8-97.4,167.1-182.9,265.8-258.8c15.6-12,31.3-23.9,47.9-36.5 c-66.2-105.1-131.9-209.2-197.2-312.8c-3.5,1.1-5.1,1.2-6.4,2c-167.2,95.6-316.1,213.7-443.2,358.8 c-105.1,119.9-191.1,252.3-259.5,396.3c-95.5,201-152.1,411.6-159.1,634.8c-3.9,125.5,4.8,249.7,40.1,371 c46.7,160.8,135.7,290.9,280.5,378.7c165.7,100.5,344.8,123,531.2,78.8c172.4-40.8,296.4-143.9,366.3-308.5 c28.5-67.2,40.6-138,44.6-210.5C3000.2,1953.3,2979.9,1831.4,2912.5,1722z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"font-weight-extralight line-height-sm margin-top-0 section-heading-sm\"><span class=\"section-heading-sm\">We truly love engaging with the academic community and incorporating the students\u2019 novel ideas into our approaches to technology development. We need cutting-edge and groundbreaking technologies for successful space exploration missions, so it\u2019s important that we continue to push the envelope and ignite innovation. I can\u2019t think of a better way to do that than collaborating with bright, creative minds who will comprise our future workforce.<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-image hds-cover-wrapper margin-right-3\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1-niki-werkheiser.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Niki Werkheiser \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1-niki-werkheiser.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1-niki-werkheiser.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1-niki-werkheiser.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/1-niki-werkheiser.png?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-name line-height-sm margin-0\">Niki Werkheiser <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-title line-height-sm padding-0 margin-0\">Director of Technology Maturation at NASA<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since its inception in 2016, the challenge has invited students to think critically and creatively about several defined aerospace topics, including extreme terrain robotics, lunar metal production, Mars greenhouse development, and more. Each year, the theme is tied directly to a current aerospace challenge NASA is working on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center padding-y-3 maxw-full width-full display-flex flex-align-center hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-blockquote\"><div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block display-flex flex-column flex-justify-center padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:display-flex mobile:display-block\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-icon margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"tablet:square-4 square-4 margin-right-3\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 3000 3000\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 3000 3000;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"> <g> <path d=\"M586.7,1429.7c-10.7,1.5-21.4,2.8-33.9,4.5c6.9-26.6,12.7-50.7,19.5-74.6c32.4-114.1,78.5-222.2,146.8-319.5 c90.2-128.5,202.5-235.3,327.7-329.1c8.4-6.3,16.7-12.6,25.3-19.1c-66.3-105.1-131.5-208.6-197.3-313.1c-3.5,1.2-5.5,1.6-7.2,2.6 C714.4,469,576.1,575.7,456,705.3c-126,135.9-226.2,289.1-303,457.8c-98.8,217.1-151.3,444-147.2,683.3 c1.7,100.5,12.9,199.6,41.1,296.3C93.7,2303,182.2,2433,326.7,2520.1c176.9,106.7,366.8,126.8,563.4,70.5 c150.9-43.2,260.9-138.9,327.2-282.5c33.4-72.5,47.8-149.4,52-228.7c6.5-122.8-14.1-239.5-74.3-348.1 C1074.6,1514.5,832.7,1394.2,586.7,1429.7z\"><\/path><path d=\"M2912.5,1722c-129.9-210.9-320.2-309.4-567.9-296c-22.1,1.2-44,5.1-67.4,7.9c2.2-9.6,4-17.9,6.1-26.2 c37.9-153.6,99.3-296,198.8-420.5c77.8-97.4,167.1-182.9,265.8-258.8c15.6-12,31.3-23.9,47.9-36.5 c-66.2-105.1-131.9-209.2-197.2-312.8c-3.5,1.1-5.1,1.2-6.4,2c-167.2,95.6-316.1,213.7-443.2,358.8 c-105.1,119.9-191.1,252.3-259.5,396.3c-95.5,201-152.1,411.6-159.1,634.8c-3.9,125.5,4.8,249.7,40.1,371 c46.7,160.8,135.7,290.9,280.5,378.7c165.7,100.5,344.8,123,531.2,78.8c172.4-40.8,296.4-143.9,366.3-308.5 c28.5-67.2,40.6-138,44.6-210.5C3000.2,1953.3,2979.9,1831.4,2912.5,1722z\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"font-weight-extralight line-height-sm margin-top-0 section-heading-sm\"><span class=\"section-heading-sm\">Through the BIG Idea Challenge, we enhance the university experience by providing students and faculty with more opportunities to engage in meaningful NASA projects. This not only enables a multitude of networking opportunities for the students but also gives them a real sense of accomplishment and lets them know that their ideas are important.<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blockquote-image hds-cover-wrapper margin-right-3\"><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/edu_epscor_iowa_tomas_gonzalez-torres1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Tomas Gonzalez-Torres\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/edu_epscor_iowa_tomas_gonzalez-torres1.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/edu_epscor_iowa_tomas_gonzalez-torres1.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/edu_epscor_iowa_tomas_gonzalez-torres1.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/edu_epscor_iowa_tomas_gonzalez-torres1.jpg?resize=100,100 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-name line-height-sm margin-0\">Tomas Gonzalez-Torres<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"blockquote-credit-title line-height-sm padding-0 margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Space Grant project manager<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The BIG Idea Challenge is one of several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stem\/artemis.html\">Artemis student challenges<\/a> sponsored through NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stmd-game-changing-development\/\">Game Changing Development (GCD) program<\/a> and the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/national-space-grant-college-and-fellowship-project\/\">Office of STEM Engagement Space Grant Project<\/a>. It is managed by a partnership between the <a href=\"http:\/\/nianet.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Institute of Aerospace<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jhuapl.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BIG Idea supports GCD’s efforts to rapidly mature innovative and high-impact capabilities and technologies for possible infusion in future NASA missions, while creating a rewarding student and faculty experience.  The 16-month intensive project-based program supports innovations initiated and furthered by the student teams that can possibly be adopted by NASA, and it works to endeavor ambitious new missions beyond Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bigidea.nianet.org\/2024-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Learn more about this year\u2019s BIG Idea Challenge<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Visal concept of lunar infrastructure and inlfatable systems including a gantry, solar array, high mobility vehicle, manufacturing press, dust shield, and garage.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-labeled-final.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">AMA Advanced Concepts Lab<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?w=525\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=394,600 394w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stmd-game-changing-development\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Game Changing Development<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/lsii-isru-primedrill-v1.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/lunar-surface-innovation-initiative\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/surface-power.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/get-involved\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Get Involved<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1025\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg 8192w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/top-image.jpg?resize=2000,1334 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year will be a \u201cBIG\u201d year for several college and university teams as they research, design, and demonstrate novel inflatable systems configured for future lunar operations through a NASA-sponsored engineering competition. NASA\u2019s Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge asked student innovators to propose novel inflatable component and system concepts that could benefit future [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":463599,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"49","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"578309","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":["283564","283557"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":["550105","61575"],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2879,3334,1,3818,3340,2666],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12650,4224,12340,12312,12310,10600,10606,3874,3934,12308],"coauthors":[8596],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Student Teams to Help Fill the Inflatable Void with Latest Student Challenge \u00a0","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/student-teams-to-help-fill-the-inflatable-void-with-latest-student-challenge\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/student-teams-to-help-fill-the-inflatable-void-with-latest-student-challenge\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Stefanie Payne"}],"creator":["Stefanie Payne"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Game Changing Development Program","General","Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium","Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative"],"dateCreated":"2024-02-29T20:01:38Z","datePublished":"2024-02-29T20:01:38Z","dateModified":"2024-02-29T20:15:05Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Student Teams to Help Fill the Inflatable Void with Latest Student Challenge \u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/student-teams-to-help-fill-the-inflatable-void-with-latest-student-challenge\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-02-29T20:01:38Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Game Changing Development Program,General,Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium,Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Stefanie Payne\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"4 months","featured_image":{"id":463599,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final.png","title":"gcd-bigidea-inflatablesgraphic-final","alt":"An artist's rendering of a an astronaut working on the surface of the Moon. In the background is a lunar terrain vehicle, a pressurized rover, and a lunar lander.","caption":"An artist's rendering of a an astronaut working on the surface of the Moon."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/614199"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=614199"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/614199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":624642,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/614199\/revisions\/624642"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/463599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=614199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=614199"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=614199"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=614199"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=614199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}