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.
Twenty-five university teams will move forward to Phase II of 2018 Micro-g NExT. The teams represent seventeen states. Six of the twenty-two institutions represented are new to the Micro-g NExT experience. One community college and four Minority Serving Institutions are among the institutions participating. Of the four design challenges posed, nine teams will engineer an EVA Ziptie Cutter, nine teams will engineer a Module Leak Repair System, three teams will engineer the Sharp Edge Detection and Removal Device, and four teams will engineer the Under Ice Sampling Device. Each of these devices has the potential to aid in a future spacewalk or exploration mission.
