NASA has advanced fourteen undergraduate and graduate finalist teams to the next phase of the agency’s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition. Among the finalist teams are four from Virginia Tech. 

Teams are tasked with developing new, innovative concepts to improve our ability to operate on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. They will present their designs, methodologies, and anticipated impacts to NASA and aerospace industry leaders at the RASC-AL forum in June. 

Virginia Tech has a long history of performing well at the RASC-AL forum, yet this is a record-setting year for the number of finalist teams. Virginia Tech is represented in each of the three themes, with two in the sustained lunar evolution category. 

Innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration

As NASA looks toward the future of space exploration to the Moon and beyond to Mars, these student-developed technologies have the potential to contribute real solutions to some of NASA’s most pressing challenges. 

Projects are incorporated into the teams’ coursework and fall into one of three themes: scalable lunar infrastructure and services, a lunar robot that can work autonomously or be controlled remotely, and a concept for a science or technology demonstration mission using human-scale launch, transportation, entry, and landing capabilities at Mars. All of these functions are critical to future NASA missions. 

All four teams from Virginia Tech are advised by Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh, collegiate professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. 

Sustained Lunar Evolution – An Inspirational Moment Theme

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “MISTRESS: Moon Infrastructure for Sustainable Technologies, Resource Extraction, and Self-Sufficiency”

  • Tulane University, “Scalable Constructs for Advanced Lunar Activities and Research (SCALAR)”

  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, “Project Aeneas”
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, “Project Khonsu”

Advanced Science Missions and Technology Demonstrators for Human-Mars Precursor Campaign Theme

  • Auburn University, “Dynamic Ecosystems for Mars ECLSS Testing, Evaluation, and Reliability (DEMETER)”

  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, “MATER: Mars Architecture for Technology Evaluation and Research”

  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, “Project VESTA (Vehicles for Engineering Surface Terrain Architectures)”

Small Lunar Servicing and Maintenance Robot Theme

  • Arizona State University, “DIANA: Diagnostic and Intelligent Autonomously Navigated Assistant”

  • South Dakota State University, “MANTIS: Maintenance and Navigation for Technical Infrastructure Support”

  • South Dakota State University, “Next-gen Operations and Versatile Assistant (NOVA)”

  • Texas A&M University, “RAMSEE: Robotic Autonomous Maintenance System for Extraterrestrial Environments”

  • University of Maryland, “Servicing Crane Outfitted Rover for Payloads, Inspection, Operations, N’stuff (SCORPION)”

  • University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, “Multi-functional Operational Rover for Payload Handling and Navigation (MORPHN)”

  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, “Adaptive Device for Assistance and Maintenance (ADAM)”

 

In the department of aerospace and ocean engineering, the undergraduate curriculum leads up to a year-long capstone design experience in the senior year. The group design process better simulates the way design is done in the real world and promotes the benefits of collaborative learning.  Each of the Virginia Tech RASC-AL finalists were formed as teams within the space engineering track of the capstone design course, annually taught by Shinpaugh.

To learn more about NASA’s RASC-AL Competition, visit NASA’s RASC-AL Competition Website. RASC-AL is sponsored by the Strategy and Architecture Office within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, and by the Space Mission Analysis Branch within the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley. It is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace.