After three months of designing and modeling, a panel of judges from NASA, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation (ASME) and Made In Space Inc. have selected the winners of the Future Engineers 3-D Printing in Space Tool Challenge.
The winner from the Teen Group (ages 13-19) is a Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool that Robert Hillan of Enterprise, Alabama, designed. The winner of the Junior Group (ages 5-12) is a Space Planter that Sydney Vernon from Bellevue, Washington, designed.
The challenge asked students in grades K-12 to use their imagination to create and submit a digital 3-D model of a tool they think astronauts could use in space. “If an astronaut tool breaks, future space pioneers won’t be able to go to the local hardware store to purchase a replacement, but with 3-D printing they will be able to create their own replacement or even create tools we’ve never seen before.” said Niki Werkheiser, NASA’s In-Space Manufacturing Project Manager at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center.
Junior Winner Space Planter designed by Sydney Vernon
Image Credit:
Sydney Vernon
Robert Hillan’s Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool has “a number of important tools which allow an astronaut to complete tasks with comfort and ease. The different sized drives at the top allows the user to attach sockets. In the center are wrenches of varying sizes, allowing fewer wrenches to be carried to the job site. On the left is a precision measuring tool along with wire gauges and a single edged wire stripper. In the center is an outline for Velcro to be applied allowing an easy storage around the station. A circular hole in the bottom center allows for a clip to be used as well. On the right, and ergonomic grip is built into the tool with ridges for better grasp, lastly a pry bar is built into the ergonomic grip for ease of access”. Robert will watch from NASA’s Payload Operations Center with the mission control team as their design is printed aboard the International Space Station.
Sydney Vernon of Bellevue, Washington during her finalist interview with Astronaut Reid Weisman.
Image Credit:
Adrienne Gifford
Sydney‘s school will receive a 3-D printer. “First, I had a great time coming up with and designing my space tool. Then, I got told I would get a free 3-D print of what I'd made. And today, I got to meet two NASA astronauts!! This has been awesome!”
Winners were selected after a panel of expert judges interviewed the four highest rated winners from each age group. The panel members were Werkheiser, Mike Snyder, head of research and development, Made In Space Inc.; and NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Dr. Yvonne Cagle.
The top 10 entries from each age group are:
Teen Group (Ages13-19)
- Robert Hillan, Enterprise, Alabama – Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool (winner)
- Erik Carstens, Green Bay, Wisconsin – Multi Hex Key Tool (finalist)
- Ethan Cranston, Golden, Colorado – H20 Comb (finalist)
- Nate Giese, Green Bay, Wisconsin – Finger Splint (finalist)
- Quincy Edwards, New York – Variable Wrench Set (semifinalist)
- Patrick Gross, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina – Life Infusion (semifinalist)
- Eric Jing, Pennington, New Jersey – One-handed Container (semifinalist)
- Aaron Kruzel, Brighton, Michigan – Utility Armband (semifinalist)
- Christian Rispoli, Spring Lake, New Jersey – Pocket Utility Tool (semifinalist)
- Eliot Winchell, Corte Mader, California – Micro-Clean (semifinalist)
Junior Group (Ages 5-12)
- Sydney Vernon, Bellevue, Washington – Space Planter (winner)
- Alex Jang, Irving, Texas – Hand Trash Smasher (finalist)
- William Johnson, Littleton, Colorado – Plastic Replaceable Astronomical Screwdriver (finalist)
- Nate Shue, Fairfax, Virginia – Water Catcher (finalist)
- Logan Castaldo, East Greenwich, Rhode Island – Rope of Usefulness (semifinalist)
- Aditya Hegde, San Diego, California – Sticky Grippers (semifinalist)
- John Humpherys, Treasure Island, Florida – Handy Helper (semifinalist)
- Maria Quinn, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin – Cup Clamp (semifinalist)
- Trisha Sathish, Cupertino, California – Container O Storage (semifinalist)
- Nagasai Sreyash Sola, Ashburn, Virginia – Astro Multi-Tool (semifinalist)
International Space Station Expedition 42 Commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore shows off a ratchet wrench made with a 3-D printer on the station.
Image Credit:
NASA
The Space Tool Challenge is the first in series of Future Engineers 3-D Printing challenges for students focused on designing solutions to real-world space exploration problems. They are conducted by the ASME Foundation in collaboration with NASA and were announced in June as part of the White House Maker Faire to empower America’s students to invent the future by bringing their ideas to life. The next challenge will be announced in April 2015. For additional information on the Future Engineers 3-D Printing in Space Challenges or to sign up for information on upcoming challenges, visit the Future Engineers Website.
The challenge supports NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate’s Advanced Exploration Division’s 3-D Printing in Zero-G ISS Technology Demonstration whose goal is to demonstrate the capability of utilizing a 3-D printer for in-space additive manufacturing technology. This is the first step toward realizing an additive manufacturing, print-on-demand “machine shop” for long-duration missions and sustaining human exploration of other planets, where there is extremely limited ability and availability of Earth-based logistics support. Advanced Exploration Systems pioneers new approaches for rapidly developing prototype systems, demonstrating key capabilities and validating operational concepts for future human missions beyond Earth orbit.
www.nasa/gov
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