NASA's Big Idea Challenge Forum

This is a past event.

Virtual Event

Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 3:50 pm– 4:50 pm

Event Details

This is a past event.

Michigan Technological University

Tethered–permanently shadowed Region Explorer (T-REX)

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Paul van Susante

During the 2020 BIG Idea Virtual Forum, 8 university teams competitively selected to participate in NASA’s 2020 BIG Idea Challenge will present their designs and proof-of-concept testing results for small lunar payloads that demonstrate systems needed for exploration and science in the Moon’s polar regions. For more information on each of these designs, please see “NASA Selects University Teams to Build Technologies for the Moon’s Darkest Areas.”

The 8 Finalist Teams will be presenting their work on Livestream on January 6th from 10:30 AM - 4:50 PM EST, and on January 7th from 11:00 AM - 4:10 PM EST.

The Michigan Tech team is one of eight finalists in the competition. Teams were challenged to present their innovative concepts addressing near-term technology capability requirements to support NASA’s exploration objectives for permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) in and near the moon’s polar regions. This intense competition will be judged by a panel of NASA and industry experts.

Michigan Tech will give their presentation from 3:50 to 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6.

About the Project

The T-REX is a rover that lays down lightweight, superconducting cable connected to a lander. Once the rover reaches its final spot after traveling over rocky crater terrain into the permanently shadowed regions, the rover can serve as a recharging hub and communication relay for other robots while providing ­­­­­continuous power without direct sunlight.

About the Presentation

Graduate student Marcello Guadagno, is the student lead on the project, explained what will be happening. “Today’s presentation will take the form of a 30-minute prerecorded presentation/video mash-up and 30 minutes of Q&A from judges and the audience afterwards. There will also be posters available for download and viewing.” Guadagno said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is expected to attend the competition virtually. “I'm happy to have worked with an extremely talented and motivated student team," Guadagno said. "We were able to turn a whiteboard drawings into several prototype mood rovers and state-of-the-art testing facilities in the span of a year — while dealing with COVID schedule delays. Hard work will see us through."

MTU Crew Goes BIG for NASA’s Lunar Projects

VIEW THE POSTER

Husky Works

Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab
Michigan Technological University

L-SABRE (T-REX) Project

Stream Details

Additional Details

  • Rick Berkey
  • Lan Zhang

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