{"id":653714,"date":"2024-04-30T09:41:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T13:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=653714"},"modified":"2024-04-30T09:41:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T13:41:27","slug":"nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program\/nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Challenge Gives Space Thruster Commercial Boost"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">3 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">NASA Challenge Gives Space Thruster Commercial Boost<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\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\/04\/dscn1993.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Members of Team Miles with the CubeSat developed during the NASA Cube Quest Challenge. From left to right: Alex Wingeier, Don Smith, Wes Faler. Image Credit: Team Miles\" 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\/04\/dscn1993.jpg 5184w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Members of Team Miles with the CubeSat developed during the NASA Cube Quest Challenge. From left to right: Alex Wingeier, Don Smith, Wes Faler.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Image credit: Team Miles<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In its pursuit to develop groundbreaking technologies to explore space and benefit life on Earth, NASA invites the public to contribute ideas to the agency through participatory opportunities, including challenges. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/prizes-challenges-and-crowdsourcing\/centennial-challenges\/cube-quest-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cube Quest competition<\/a> \u2013 NASA\u2019s first in-space challenge \u2013 kicked off in 2015, offering a total prize purse of $5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This challenge asked university and private developer teams to complete objectives in designing, building, and delivering small satellites capable of advanced deep space operations. Throughout two challenge phases, several teams developed and tested technologies to launch small satellites, also known as CubeSats, into orbit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Team Miles of Tampa, Florida, was the sole team to send its CubeSat aboard 2022\u2019s Artemis I flight test around the Moon. Team Miles was under the leadership of Wesley Faler and found members through Tampa Hackerspace, a community nonprofit workshop. From there, it grew to include software engineering, information technology, radio-frequency engineering, radiation, aerospace engineering, graphic design, and blacksmithing experts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was prototyping a plasma thruster design in my second bedroom workshop,\u201d says Faler. \u201cNASA\u2019s challenge was specifically looking for wild ideas from citizen scientists \u2013 not your traditional degree or institution scientists \u2013 and that appealed to me.\u201d<\/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\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1063\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Team Miles KSC\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 52% 25%; object-position: 52% 25%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png 2201w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=300,156 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=768,398 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=1024,531 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=1536,797 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=2048,1063 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=400,208 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=600,311 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=900,467 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=1200,623 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/miles-ksc.png?resize=2000,1038 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Photo collage: Team Miles integrates their CubeSat into a dispenser for the Orion stage adapter. The Orion stage adapter connects the SLS rocket to Orion and had slots built into it for the payloads.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credits: NASA\/KSC<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>During the challenge\u2019s ground test phases, Team Miles developed its Miles CubeSat, a breadbox-sized satellite propelled with a novel water-fueled plasma thruster. The team also created and radiation-tested its Resilient Affordable CubeSat Processor flight computer to communicate in deep space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In total, NASA awarded $100,000 to Team Miles in the ground phase of the Cube Quest challenge. Despite not winning the in-space phase of the challenge due to a communications failure after launch, Faler emphasizes the value of participation extending beyond monetary awards, showcasing the team’s resilience and determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe challenge generated publicity and public awareness for a wild idea. The fact that NASA looked at the idea and helped us advance it gave us a platform to talk to people. That is huge for these challenges \u2013 the opportunity to be heard,\u201d says Faler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the challenge ended, Faler has cofounded and become the CEO of Miles Space, Inc., a company that was born out of the innovative spirit of Team Miles. In January 2024, Miles Space was acquired by RocketStar, Inc., where Faler now serves as chief technology officer. Stemming from iterations of Faler\u2019s original thruster, the company has developed a nuclear fusion propulsion system, a testament to the profound impact of the Cube Quest competition on commercial space technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for words of wisdom for future challenge participants, Faler said, \u201cWhether you place in the challenge or not, you haven\u2019t lost time by participating. Being part of that process forces you to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In its pursuit to develop groundbreaking technologies to explore space and benefit life on Earth, NASA invites the public to contribute ideas to the agency through participatory opportunities, including challenges. The Cube Quest competition \u2013 NASA\u2019s first in-space challenge \u2013 kicked off in 2015, offering a total prize purse of $5 million. This challenge asked university and [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266,"featured_media":640766,"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":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"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":[3343,12645],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[10839],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Challenge Gives Space Thruster Commercial Boost","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program\/nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program\/nasa-challenge-gives-space-thruster-commercial-boost\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/dscn1993.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Bailey G. 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