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.
Challenge Descriptions
Checkout the details of the current challenges.
Updated 10/1/20
Eligibility Requirements
See if you're eligible for the Micro-g NExT activity!
Video and Proposal Guidelines
Feel free to reference our guidelines to assist you.
Updated 8/18/20
Apply Now
Application Period Closed.
MICRO-G NEXT Eligibility
Participant Criteria
- Each prospective team member must be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning (junior college, community college, college, university) at the time the proposal is submitted.
- Team members must be 16 or older before arrival in Houston.
- All participants MUST be U.S. Citizens.
- All teams must have a supervising faculty member.
- All primary team members MUST attend all test week events, including the Orientation and Test Readiness Review.
- Primary team members may participate with one team only in the same challenge or test week.
- Teams may enlist the support of students at any grade level, faculty members, professional consultants, etc. However, only primary team members may participate in the test week at JSC.
Micro-g NExT Key Dates
*Dates subject to change
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August 2020
Announce 2021 Opportunity
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2020 Remote Test Weeks
Test Readiness Reviews:
September 8-11, 2020Remote Testing:
September 15-16, 2020 -
Oct 1, 2020
Letter of Intent Due
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
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Oct 30, 2020
Proposals Due
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December 2020
Selection Announcement
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2021 Anticipated Test Weeks
Test Week 1:
June 7-12, 2021Test Week 2:
June 14-19, 2021
Videos
Check out our video library.
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2021 Micro-g NExT Selection Show:
"At Home" Edition
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Challenge 1: Orion Crew Safety - Surface Autonomous Vehicle for Emergency Response (SAVER)
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Challenge 4: Lunar Surface Operations - Lunar Sample Coring Device
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Students Supporting Spacewalks
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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.
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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.
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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!