Check Out These New Space Habitation Systems for ‘Journey to Mars’ [Designed by Students]

Rupam

First Posted: Nov 08, 2016 04:04 AM EST

When it comes to the long-anticipated "Journey to Mars" mission aimed at upgrading mankind's status to the only interplanetary species in the neighborhood, you would expect some of the brightest mind with loads of experience working on the roadmap. After all, this is an immensely complicated and awfully expensive project that can afford no loose ends whatsoever.

NASA agrees and hence, encouraging the brightest minds from all over the world to contribute with feedback and suggestions. However, it seems the premier space agency is willing to be more accommodative on the 'experience' front as long as you can chip in with your "innovative approaches and insights."

In fact, it was the quest for an out-of-the-box approach that prompted NASA to come up with the eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge series. As part of the challenge, eight student teams were selected. They were granted a net sum of $117,000 to engage in the concept development work for space habitation systems prototypes that aim to make astronaut's life in deep space healthier, more comfortable, and efficient.

The prototypes built by the eight university teams through the 2015-16 academic season were selected by NASA and the National Space Grant Foundation based on their practicality, as well as the potential to contribute to NASA's existing deep-space habitation capabilities.

NASA has announced that this year, the student team-designed space habitation systems included unique approaches to space--based astronaut fitness, plant growth, air purification, and vehicle integration.

"Engaging academia allows NASA to take advantage of innovative approaches and insights from university teams in concert with NASA expertise," Tracy Gill from the NASA's Research and Technology Management Office, said in a statement. Gill is leading the X-Hab project and providing guidance and mentorship to the participating student groups throughout the process.

The teams this year included students from the following universities:

University of Colorado, Boulder (designed the LabOasis)
Oklahoma State University (designed a zero-gravity exercise system)
Pratt Institute, New York (designed a Mars transit habitat)
Utah State University (designed a plant chamber dubbed EDEN)
Ohio State University (designed a vegetation system)
University of Maryland (designed an inflatable airlock system)
University of Puerto Rico (designed a low-power space metal manufacturing unit)
University of South Alabama (designed a device for the measurement of the diffusion rates of carbon dioxide)