MicroG is an annual NASA competition for undergraduate students to design, build, and test tools that address current space exploration challenges faced by astronauts in microgravity environments. I am part of the Boise State University (BSU) team.
The challenge includes hands-on engineering design, test operations, and public outreach. Test operations are conducted in a simulated microgravity environment at NASA's Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas.
The 2021-2022 challenges mainly revolved around NASA's Artemis program. The Artemis program is NASA's plan to get America back to the moon.
MircoG program
Artemis program
The 3 challenges for 2021-2022
- EVA Sample Size Location Calibration Marker
- EVA Sample Bag & Dispenser
- Lunar Reusable Surface Anchoring Device
Boise State University has MircoG as one of their VIP (Vertical Integrated Projects) Courses, in short I get college credit for this. You can check out more about that
here Lunar Reusable Surface Anchoring Device
Out of the three challenges we chose to take on the Lunar Reusable Surface Anchoring Device, believing to being the most challenging out of the three. The competition worked in two parts. The first semester would be dedicated to just solving the problem developing a solution this would give us time to look at multiple different solutions, do the calculation and do preliminary testing of parts of the solution. Do all the paperwork and then present the solution to NASA. This part goes from September to December. It won't be till December or January till we know if NASA excepted or not. Once it's chosen we start working a full prototype that will be taken the NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab in June.
NASA's Design Constraints
Once we looked over the specifications, the Design Process started with looking at solutions already built for a similar problems. The problem called for something to be able to secure a 10 lbs object with a rock. If you're interested in the specification of the challenges read the pdf.
Initial ideas started with a rope system like a lasso, that would warp around the rock.
The way I saw the problem is that you needed to "grab onto something". I things that I know is good at grabbing things is the human hand. It eventually simplified into a claw machine style of hand. Then I just needed a locking mechanism. At the time I got one of those belts that have a ratchet like system. So, I incorporated a ratchet system into the design. I also had a 2in aluminum round stock I had for an other personal project. Made the center part round. Created my paper solution that you see on the left.
Boise State University submitted the proposed design in October then we had to wait.
When December came around, Were we excited to hear the news!
We're 1 of 15 schools from across the US to have their design excepted by NASA
Shortly after getting the word it was time to build a full prototype. Parts were order things were put together. Many mirror modification were made as we build. To improve movement or "standardized parts" so it was easy to assemble and disassemble. Time got do to the hour before it needed to be send out. But what ever complications we had were fixed and was shipped out the door to Houston. Sadly I didn't get to go to Hoston this time:( The final pool testing took place June 5-9. Video bellow shows the testing in the pool.
