Fri, Oct 02, 2009
No-Limits Contest Focusing On The Moon, Mars
NASA and the National Institute of
Aerospace (NIA) are sponsoring a competition for engineering ideas,
with the winning design possibly becoming part of an actual space
project.
The 2010 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic
Linkage or RASC-AL contest is aimed at undergraduate and graduate
engineering students.
"NASA is always looking for great ideas. What better group to
turn to than the next generation of engineers?" said Pat Troutman,
senior systems analyst at NASA's Langley Research Center in
Hampton, VA. "Students get something out of it too. They get chance
to apply what they learn in class to real world aerospace
challenges."
Students can choose one of four themes for their project: a
lunar outpost design that will help reduce risk for future human
missions to Mars; technology-enabled human Mars mission; novel
concepts to engage the general public in human exploration
missions; and architecture approaches that provide cost-effective
exploration with minimal infrastructure. Student teams submit a
summary of and an outreach plan for their proposed projects by
February 5, 2010.
The RASC-AL steering committee made up of NASA and industry
experts will evaluate proposals and select as many as ten
undergraduate and five graduate teams to compete against each other
at a forum next June in Florida.
"NIA is excited to once again collaborate with NASA on the
RASC-AL design competition," said Dr. Robert Lindberg, NIA
president and executive director. "Students will gain valuable
experience working in a team environment and presenting their
project to peers, industry experts and NASA."
Teams selected submit a written report, prepare a poster and
give an oral presentation at the RASC-AL forum. The June event
gives faculty and students the chance to meet with NASA and
industry experts, introduce concepts and data from the competition
into NASA exploration program planning, develop relationships that
could lead to participation in other NASA student research programs
and show the benefits of NASA-university-industry cooperation.
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