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NASA B.I.G. Idea Challenge
Extra Curricular
Oct. 2019 - Feb. 2020
Technical Skills: Research, SolidWorks CAD Modeling
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Objective: Design a lunar orbiter which searches for evidence of water on the lunar surface
About:
The NASA B.I.G. Idea Challenge of 2019-2020 was a competition held by NASA in which university teams would design a lunar orbiter and parts of its mission to the moon; the winning team's proposal would be built and enacted, their design actually going to space. The UVA team focused on developing an orbiter which would use lasers to measure reflection/refraction of light from the lunar surface in order to determine whether there is evidence of water on the moon.
Contributions:
Joining the UVA "OCEANID", as our orbiter was named, team was one of my first activities as a student. I joined this team in October of my first year when I had just a month or so of a university-level general engineering education under my belt. This meant that I would be biting off - what I thought would be - a little more than I could chew. My teammates did not see it the same way I did.
Off the bat, I was tasked with researching batteries to use. Next, sponges and vanes for the propellant tanks in the engine. Item after item I researched, asked about, and explained to my peers. As a founding member of the team, I was designated the Testing Methods Lead which meant I was responsible for our testing plan that we would put into place if we were to win. I worked collaboratively and as a leader with this group.
Lessons Learned:
This project taught me about planning something abstract from start to finish, even when I am not an expert. Participating on this team, I gained incredible experience teaching myself and finding and using resources on my own or just with peers (meaning without formal instruction). This project taught me about the various components of a space design project and propelled my already intense interest in the topic even further. I learned to be a leader, even when I may not stereotypically look like one (as the only woman, and one of the youngest on the team). Finally, this project taught me that even if you don't win, you can still succeed.
Contributions (itemized):
- Research and sharing ideas for various parts of our design including battery selection, sponge and vane implementation, filtration solutions, and more
- Served as testing methods lead by detailing methods for testing each area of our design (thermal and radiation protection, avionics, propulsion, etc.)
- Produced drawings (such as the one seen above) detailing process and parts of the design)
- Wrote sections of proposal paper and edited with team
- Created parts in SolidWorks and aided teammates in using the software
- Presented project proposal in video submission with teammates