Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT) challenges undergraduate students to design, build, and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space exploration challenge. The overall experience includes hands-on engineering design, test operations, and public outreach. Test operations are conducted in the simulated microgravity environment of the NASA Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). Teams will propose design and prototyping of a tool or simulant identified by NASA engineers as necessary in space exploration missions. Professional NBL divers will test the tools and students will direct the divers from the Test Conductor Room of the NBL facility. Micro-g NExT provides a unique opportunity to contribute to NASA's missions. The 2021 Micro-g NExT challenges focus on aspects of the Artemis mission.
Checkout the details of the current challenges.
Updated 10/1/20
See if you're eligible for the Micro-g NExT activity!
Feel free to reference our guidelines to assist you.
Updated 8/18/20
Application Period Closed.
Please email with the following information: School name, Potential team lead and member names, Potential faculty advisor name(s), and 2021 Micro-g NExT Challenge chosen
2021 Micro-g NExT Selection Show:
"At Home" Edition
Challenge 1: Orion Crew Safety - Surface Autonomous Vehicle for Emergency Response (SAVER)
Challenge 4: Lunar Surface Operations - Lunar Sample Coring Device
Students Supporting Spacewalks
In just over a year, a Micro-g NExT student inspired tool has gone from student hands in Houston to the AMS spacewalk outside the ISS.
NASA Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson invites undergraduate students to take part in Micro-g NExT. Micro-g NExT challenges student teams to design, build, and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space exploration challenge.
Get an up-close look at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), hear from university students participating in NASA's #MicrogNEXT who have built tool prototypes designed for crew members to use in space, and even see NASA divers testing the tool prototypes in the pool!