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By NASA
NASA’s SpaceX 32nd commercial resupply services mission, scheduled to lift off from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in April, is heading to the International Space Station with experiments that include research on whether plant DNA responses in space correlate to human aging and disease, and measuring the precise effects of gravity on time.
Discover more details about the two experiments’ potential impacts on space exploration and how they can enhance life on Earth:
“Second Guessing” Time in Space
As outlined in Einstein’s general theory of relativity, how we experience the passage of time is influenced by gravity. However, there is strong evidence to believe this theory may not be complete and that there are unknown forces at play. These new physics effects may manifest themselves in small deviations from Einstein’s prediction.
The ACES (Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space) investigation is an ESA (European Space Agency) mission that aims to help answer fundamental physics questions. By comparing a highly precise atomic clock in space with numerous ground atomic clocks around the world, ACES could take global time synchronization and clock comparison experiments to new heights.
Sponsored by NASA, United States scientists are participating in the mission in various ways, including contributing ground station reference clocks. Scheduled to collect data for 30 months, this vast network of precise clocks is expected to provide fresh insights into the exact relationship between gravity and time, set new limits for unknown forces, and improve global time synchronization.
In addition to investigating the laws of physics, ACES will enable new terrestrial applications such as relativistic geodesy, which involves measuring Earth’s shape and gravitational field with extreme precision. These advancements are critical to space navigation, satellite operations, and GPS systems. For example, without understanding the time fluctuations between Earth and medium Earth orbit, GPS would be progressively less accurate.
A robotic arm will attach ACES to the Columbus Laboratory module aboard the International Space Station. Image courtesy of ESA Probing Plants for Properties to Protect DNA
The APEX-12 (Advanced Plant EXperiment-12) investigation will test the hypothesis that induction of telomerase activity in space protects plant DNA molecules from damage elicited by cellular stress evoked by the combined spaceflight stressors experienced by seedlings grown aboard the space station. It is expected that results will lead to a better understanding of differences between human and plant telomere behavior in space.
Data on telomerase activity in plants could be leveraged not only to develop therapies for age-related diseases in space and on Earth, but also for ensuring food crops are more resilient to spaceflight stress.
Telomeres and telomerase influence cell division and cell death, two processes crucial to understanding aging in humans. Telomeres are the protective end caps of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres shorten slightly, essentially acting as a biological clock for cell aging. Conversely, telomerase is an enzyme that adds nucleotide sequences to the ends of telomeres, lengthening them and counteracting their shortening.
In humans, telomere shortening is linked to various age-related conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. In astronauts, studies have shown that spaceflight leads to changes in telomere length, with a notable lengthening observed. This phenomenon carries potential implications for astronaut health outcomes. By contrast, plant telomere length did not change during spaceflight, despite a dramatic increase in telomerase activity.
A microscopic image of plant telomeres taken under a fluorescent microscope. The chromosomes are highlighted in blue. The telomeres are highlighted in yellow. Image courtesy of Texas A&M University How this benefits space exploration: Experiments aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-32 mission is twofold. One, they have the potential to significantly enhance precision timekeeping, which is necessary to improve space navigation and communication. Two, they can provide insights into how plants adapt to protect DNA molecules from cellular stress caused by environmental factors experienced in spaceflight, in an effort to sustain plant life in space.
How this benefits humanity: The experiments conducted on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-32 mission offer a range of potential benefits to humanity. First, improving precision timekeeping for more accurate GPS technology. Second, capturing data about how telomerase activity correlates to cellular stress in plants, which could lead to assays which better correlate telomerase activity and cellular stress and provide fundamental research to contribute to potential therapies for humans.
Learn more about the investigations:
ACES (Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space)
Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission that aims to help answer fundamental physics questions.
APEX-12 (Advanced Plant EXperiment-12)
Advanced Plant EXperiment-12 (APEX-12) will test the hypothesis that induction of telomerase, a protein complex, activity in space protects plant DNA molecules from damage elicited by cellular stress evoked by the combined spaceflight stressors experienced by seedlings grown aboard the space station.
About BPS
NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division pioneers scientific discovery and enables exploration by using space environments to conduct investigations not possible on Earth. Studying biological and physical phenomenon under extreme conditions allows researchers to advance the fundamental scientific knowledge required to go farther and stay longer in space, while also benefitting life on Earth.
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By NASA
4 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
NASA and SpaceX are launching the company’s 32nd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station later this month, bringing a host of new research to the orbiting laboratory. Aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft are experiments focused on vision-based navigation, spacecraft air quality, materials for drug and product manufacturing, and advancing plant growth with less reliance on photosynthesis.
This and other research conducted aboard the space station advances future space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars, and provides many benefits to humanity.
Investigations traveling to the space station include:
Robotic spacecraft guidance
Smartphone Video Guidance Sensor-2 (SVGS-2) uses the space station’s Astrobee robots to demonstrate using a vision-based sensor developed by NASA to control a formation flight of small satellites. Based on a previous in-space demonstration of the technology, this investigation is designed to refine the maneuvers of multiple robots and integrate the information with spacecraft systems.
Potential benefits of this technology include improved accuracy and reliability of systems for guidance, navigation, and control that could be applied to docking crewed spacecraft in orbit and remotely operating multiple robots on the lunar or Martian surface.
Two of the space station’s Astrobee robots are used to test a vision-based guidance system for Smartphone Video Guidance Sensor (SVGS)NASA Protection from particles
During spaceflight, especially long-duration missions, concentrations of airborne particles must be kept within ranges safe for crew health and hardware performance. The Aerosol Monitors investigation tests three different air quality monitors in space to determine which is best suited to protect crew health and ensure mission success. The investigation also tests a device for distinguishing between smoke and dust. Aboard the space station, the presence of dust can cause false smoke alarms that require crew member response. Reducing false alarms could save valuable crew time while continuing to protect astronaut safety.
Better materials, better drugs
The DNA Nano Therapeutics-Mission 2 produces a special type of molecule formed by DNA-inspired, customizable building blocks known as Janus base nanomaterials. It also evaluates how well the materials reduce joint inflammation and whether they can help regenerate cartilage lost due to arthritis. These materials are less toxic, more stable, and more compatible with living tissues than current drug delivery technologies.
Environmental influences such as gravity can affect the quality of these materials and delivery systems. In microgravity, they are larger and have greater uniformity and structural integrity. This investigation could help identify the best formulations and methods for cost-effective in-space production. These nanomaterials also could be used to create novel systems targeting therapy delivery that improves patient outcomes with fewer side effects.
Stem cells grown along the Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs) made aboard the International Space Station.University of Connecticut Next-generation pharmaceutical nanostructures
The newest Industrial Crystallization Cassette (ADSEP-ICC) investigation adds capabilities to an existing protein crystallization facility. The cassette can process more sample types, including tiny gold particles used in devices that detect cancer and other diseases or in targeted drug delivery systems. Microgravity makes it possible to produce larger and more uniform gold particles, which improves their use in research and real-life applications of technologies related to human health.
Helping plants grow
Rhodium USAFA NIGHT examines how tomato plants respond to microgravity and whether a carbon dioxide replacement can reduce how much space-grown plants depend on photosynthesis. Because photosynthesis needs light, which requires spacecraft power to generate, alternatives would reduce energy use. The investigation also examines whether using supplements increases plant growth on the space station, which has been observed in preflight testing on Earth. In future plant production facilities aboard spacecraft or on celestial bodies, supplements could come from available organic materials such as waste.
Understanding how plants adapt to microgravity could help grow food during long-duration space missions or harsh environments on Earth.
Hardware for the Rhodium Plant LIFE, which was the first in a series used to study how space affects plant growth.NASA Atomic clocks in space
An ESA (European Space Agency) investigation, Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES), examines fundamental physics concepts such as Einstein’s theory of relativity using two next-generation atomic clocks operated in microgravity. Results have applications to scientific measurement studies, the search for dark matter, and fundamental physics research that relies on highly accurate atomic clocks in space. The experiment also tests a technology for synchronizing clocks worldwide using global navigation satellite networks.
An artist’s concept shows the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space hardware mounted on the Earth-facing side of the space station’s exterior.ESA Download high-resolution photos and videos of the research mentioned in this article.
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By NASA
Explore This Section Science Science Activation Findings from the Field: A… Overview Learning Resources Science Activation Teams SME Map Opportunities More Science Activation Stories Citizen Science 3 min read
Findings from the Field: A Research Symposium for Student Scientists
Within the scientific community, peer review has become the process norm for which an author’s research or ideas undergo careful examination by other experts in their field. It encourages each scientist to meet the high standards that they themselves, as writers and reviewers, have aided in setting. It has become essential to the academic writing practice.
Historically, the peer review process has been limited to higher education and scholars more established in their academic careers. It has been required by only the more reputable publications, which can mean that lesser-known journals that don’t require this rigorous peer review process contain lower quality or less reliable information.
In an effort to give scientists of all ages the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the advancement of human knowledge in a meaningful and reliable way, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) began publishing Findings from the Field, a journal of student ecological and environmental science, launched in 2017. Students conduct authentic scientific inquiry, subject their research to the peer review process, and submit their revised work for editorial board review before publication—the same process a NASA scientist must go through! This hands-on, real-world experience in scientific communication sharpens these young scientists’ skills and immerses them in the collaborative nature of research—an essential foundation for the next generation of scientists.
After 7 years and 7 published volumes, Findings from the Field was ready to expand, and the Findings Student Research Symposium was launched. The Symposium was a success from the start, with 65 student scientists joining the event the first year and attendance climbing to 95 for year two. On March 10, 2025, GMRI (the anchor institution for the NASA Science Activation program’s Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) project) welcomed nearly 100 young scientists, ranging from grades 5-12. These students, representing eight schools across Maine and New Hampshire, came together to share their research and engage in an evolving, intergenerational scientific community—one that fosters curiosity, collaboration, and scientific discovery.
Students presented their research through posters and live presentations, covering topics ranging from invasive green crab species, to the changing landscapes of Ash and Hemlock trees, and more. By connecting students with professional researchers, fostering peer discussions, and providing a platform for publishing legitimate scientific work, the Findings Symposium is a launch pad for the future of the scientific community.
One important element of the Symposium is the opportunity for young scientists to dialogue with professional scientists. Students engaged with researchers from Markus Frederich’s lab at the University of New England, volunteers from local organizations like Unum and Avangrid, and expert staff from GMRI.
Student Madalyn Bartlett from Sacoppee Valley Middle School shared, “It makes me feel really proud, because I get to talk to professional scientists that have a lot of experience in this, and it make me feel like I am contributing to something bigger than my school and my community.”
These interactions emphasize that science isn’t confined to white coats and labs—it’s about curiosity, observation, and shared knowledge. The keynote speaker, Kat Gardner-Vandy from a former NASA Science Activation project team, Native Earth | Native Sky, reinforced this message, inspiring students to see themselves as vital contributors to science and our collective knowledge about the world.
The Learning Ecosystems Northeast project is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB94A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about Learning Ecosystems Northeast: https://www.learningecosystemsnortheast.org/
Native Earth | Native Sky’s Kat Gardner-Vandy delivering the keynote speech to students at the Findings Symposium. Share
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By NASA
2 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
NASA uses radio frequency (RF) for a variety of tasks in space, including communications. The Europa Clipper RF panel — the box with the copper wiring near the top — will send data carried by radio waves through the spacecraft between the electronics and eight antennas. Credit: NASA Even before we’re aware of heart trouble or related health issues, our bodies give off warning signs in the form of vibrations. Technology to detect these signals has ranged from electrodes and patches to watches. Now, an innovative wall-mounted technology is capable of monitoring vital signs. Advanced TeleSensors Inc. developed the Cardi/o Monitor with an exclusive license from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
Over the course of five years, NASA engineers created a small, inexpensive, contactless device to measure vital signs, a challenging task partly because monitoring heart rate requires picking out motions of about one three-thousandth of an inch, which are easily swamped by other movement in the environment.
By the late 1990s, hardware and computing technology could meet the challenge, and the NASA JPL team created a prototype the size of a thick textbook. It would emit a radio beam toward a stationary person, working similarly to a radar, and algorithms differentiated cardiac and respiratory activity from the “noise” of other movements.
When Sajol Ghoshal, now CEO of Austin, Texas-based Advanced TeleSensors, participated in a demonstration of the prototype, he saw the potential for in-home monitoring. By then, developing an affordable device was possible due to the miniaturization of sensors and computing technology.
The Cardi/o vital sign monitor uses NASA-developed technology to continually monitor vital signs. The data collected can be sent directly to medical care providers, cutting down on the number of home healthcare visits. Credit: Advanced TeleSensors Inc. The Cardi/o Monitor is 3 inches square and mounts to a ceiling or wall. It can detect vital signs from up to 10 feet. Multiple devices can be scattered throughout a house, with a smartphone app controlling settings and displaying all data on a single dashboard. The algorithms NASA developed detect heartbeat and respiration, and the company added heart rate variability detection that indicates stress and sleep apnea.
If there’s an anomaly, such as a dramatic heart rate increase, an alert in the app calls attention to the situation. Up to six months of data is stored in a secure cloud, making it accessible to healthcare providers. This limits the need for regular in-person visits, which is particularly important for conditions such as infectious diseases, which can put medical professionals and other patients at risk.
Through the commercialization of this life-preserving technology, NASA is at the heart of advancing health solutions.
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13 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
Getty Images University Student Research Challenge (USRC) seeks to challenge students to propose new ideas/concepts that are relevant to NASA Aeronautics. USRC will provide students, from accredited U.S. colleges or universities, with grants for their projects and with the challenge of raising cost share funds through a crowdfunding campaign. The process of creating and implementing a crowdfunding campaign acts as a teaching accelerator – requiring students to act like entrepreneurs and raise awareness about their research among the public.
The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies.
Eligibility: NASA funding is available to all accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (e.g. universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, or other two-year institutions). Students must be currently enrolled (part-time or full-time) at the institution. NASA has no set expectations as to the team size. The number of students participating in the investigation is to be determined by the scope of the project and the student Team Leader.
The USRC solicitation is currently Closed with Proposals next due June 26, 2025. Please visit NSPIRES to receive alerts when more information is available.
A USRC Q&A/Info Session and Proposal Workshop will be held May 12, 2025, at 2pm ET ahead of the USRC Submission deadline in June 2025. Join the Q&A
Please email us at HQ-USRC@mail.nasa.gov if you have any questions or to schedule a 1 on 1.
USRC Awards
Context-Aware Cybersecurity for UAS Traffic Management (Texas A&M University)
Developing, testing, and pursuing transition of an aviation-context-aware network authentication and segmentation function, which holistically manages cyber threats in future UAS traffic control systems.
Student Team: Vishwam Raval (Team Lead), Michael Ades, Garett Haynes, Sarah Lee, Kevin Lei, Oscar Leon, McKenna Smith, Nhan Nick Truong
Faculty Mentors: Jaewon Kim and Sandip Roy
Selected: 2025
Reconnaissance and Emergency Aircraft for Critical Hurricane Relief (North Carolina State University)
Developing and deploying advanced unmanned aerial systems designed to locate, communicate with, and deliver critical supplies to stranded individuals in the wake of natural disasters.
Student Team: Tobias Hullette (Team Lead), Jose Vizcarrondo, Rishi Ghosh, Caleb Gobel, Lucas Nicol, Ajay Pandya, Paul Randolph, Hadie Sabbah
Faculty Mentor: Felix Ewere
Selected: 2025
Design and Prototyping of a 9-phase Dual-Rotor Motor for Supersonic Electric Turbofan (Colorado School of Mines)
Designing and prototyping a scaled-down 9-phase dual-rotor motor (DRM) for a supersonic electric turbofan.
Student Team: Mahzad Gholamian (Team Lead), Garret Reader, Mykola Mazur, Mirali Seyedrezaei
Faculty Mentor: Omid Beik
Selected: 2024
Project F.I.R.E (Fire Intervention Retardant Expeller) (Cerritos Community College)
Mitigating wildfires with drone released fire retardant pellets.
Student Team: Angel Ortega Barrera (Team Lead), Larisa Mayoral, Paola Mayoral Jimenez, Jenny Rodriguez, Logan Stahl, Juan Villa
Faculty Mentor: Janet McLarty-Schroeder
Selected: 2024
Learning cooperative policies for adaptive human-drone teaming in shared airspace (Cornell University)
Enabling new coordination and communication models for smoother, more efficient, and robust air traffic flow.
Student Team: Mehrnaz Sabet (Team Lead), Aaron Babu, Marcus Lee, Joshua Park, Francis Pham, Owen Sorber, Roopak Srinivasan, Austin Zhao
Faculty Mentor: Sanjiban Choudhury, Susan Fussell
Selected: 2024
Crowdfunding Website
Investigation on Cryogenic Fluid Chill-Down Time for Supersonic Transport Usage (University of Washington, Seattle)
Investigating reducing the boil-off of cryogenic fluids in pipes using vortex generators.
Student Team: Ryan Fidelis (Team Lead), Alexander Ala, Kaleb Shaw
Faculty Mentor: Fiona Spencer, Robert Breidenthal
Selected: 2024
Crowdfunding Website
Web Article: “Students win NASA grant to develop AI for safer aerial traffic“
Clean Forever-Flying Drones: Utilizing Ocean Water for Hydrogen Extraction in Climate Monitoring (Purdue University)
An ocean-based fueling station and a survey drone that can refuel in remote areas.
Student Team: Holman Lau (Team Lead), Nikolai Baranov, Andrej Damjanov, Chloe Hardesty, Smit Kapadia
Faculty Mentor: Li Qiao
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Intelligent drone for detection of people during emergency response operation (Louisiana State University and A&M College)
Using machine learning algorithms for images and audio data, integrated with gas sensing for real-time detection of people on UAS.
Student Team: Jones Essuman (Team Lead), Tonmoy Sarker, Samer Tahboub
Faculty Mentor: Xiangyu Meng
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Advancing Aerospace Materials Design through High-Fidelity Computational Peridynamic Modeling and Modified SVET Validation of Corrosion Damage (California State University, Channel Islands)
Modeling electrochemical corrosion nonlocally and combining efforts from bond-based and state-based theory.
Student Team: Trent Ruiz (Team Lead), Isaac Cisneros, Curtis Hauck
Faculty Mentor: Cynthia Flores
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Swarm Micro UAVs for Area Mapping in GPS-denied Areas (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
Using swarm robotics to map complex environments and harsh terrain with Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs)
Student Team: Daniel Golan (Team Lead), Stanlie Cerda-Cruz, Kyle Fox, Bryan Gonzalez, Ethan Thomas
Faculty Mentor: Sergey V. Drakunov
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Web Article: “Student Research on Drone Swarm Mapping Selected to Compete at NASA Challenge“
AeroFeathers—Feathered Airfoils Inspired by the Quiet Flight of Owls (Michigan Tech University)
Creating new propeller blades and fixed wing design concepts that mimic the features of an
owl feather and provide substantial noise reduction benefits.
Student Team: William Johnston (Team Lead), Pulitha Godakawela Kankanamalage, Amulya Lomte, Maria Jose Carrillo Munoz, Brittany Wojciechowski, Laura Paige Nobles, Gabrielle Mathews
Faculty Mentor: Bhisham Sharma
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Laser Energized Aerial Drone System (LEADS) for Sustained Sensing Applications (Michigan State University)
Laser based, high-efficiency optical power transfer for UAV charging for sustained flight and monitoring.
Student Team: Gavin Gardner (Team Lead), Ryan Atkinson, Brady Berg, Ross Davis, Gryson Gardner, Malachi Keener, Nicholas Michaels
Faculty Mentor: Woongkul Lee
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
LEADS team Website
UAM Contingency Diagnosis Toolkit (Ohio State University)
A UAM contingency diagnosis toolkit which that includes cognitive work requirements (CWRs) for human operators, information sharing requirements, and representational designs.
Student Team: Connor Kannally (Team Lead), Izzy Furl, Luke McSherry, Abhinay Paladugu
Faculty Mentor: Martijn IJtsma
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Project Website
Web Article: “NASA Awards $80K to Ohio State students through University Research Challenge“
Hybrid Quadplane Search and Rescue Missions (NC A&T University)
An autonomous search and rescue quadplane UAS supported by an unmanned mobile landing platform/recharge station ground vehicle.
Student Team: Luis Landivar Olmos (Team Lead), Dakota Price, Amilia Schimmel, Sean Tisdale
Faculty Mentor: A. Homaifar
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Drone Based Water Sampling and Quality Testing – Special Application in the Raritan River (Rutgers University, New Brunswick)
An autonomous water sampling drone system.
Student Team: Michael Leitner (Team Lead), Xavier Garay, Mohamed Haroun, Ruchit Jathania, Caleb Lippe, Zachary Smolder, Chi Hin Tam
Faculty Mentor: Onur Bilgen
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Project Website
Development of a Low-Cost Open-Source Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing Machine – Arc One (Case Western Reserve University)
A small-scale, modular, low-cost, and open-source Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) platform.
Student Team: Vishnushankar Viraliyur Ramasamy (Team Lead), Robert Carlstrom, Bathlomew Ebika, Jonathan Fu, Anthony Lino, Garrett Tieng
Faculty Mentor: John Lewandowski
Selected: 2023
Crowdfunding Website
Web Article: “PhD student wins funding from NASA and develops multidisciplinary team of undergraduate students to build novel machine“
Low Cost and Efficient eVTOL Platform Leveraging Opensource for Accessibility (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
Lowering the barrier of entry into eVTOL deployment and development with a low cost, efficient, and open source eVTOL platform
Student Team: Martin Arguelles-Perez (Team Lead), Benjamin Bishop, Isabella Laurito, Genaro Marcial Lorza, Eman Yonis
Faculty Mentor: Venkatesan Muthukumar
Selected: 2022
Applying Space-Based Estimation Techniques to Drones in GPS-Denied Environments (University Of Texas, Austin)
Taking real-time inputs from flying drones and outputting an accurate state estimation with 3-D error ellipsoid visualization
Student Team: James Mitchell Roberts (Team Lead), Lauren Byram, Melissa Pires
Faculty Mentor: Adam Nokes
Selected: 2022
Crowdfunding Website
Project Website
Web Article: “GPS-free Drone Tech Proposal Lands Undergrads Spot in NASA Challenge“
Underwing Distributed Ducted Fan ‘FanFoil’ Concept for Transformational Aerodynamic and Aeroacoustic Performance (Texas Tech University, Lubbock)
Novel highly under-cambered airfoils with electric ducted fans featuring ’samara’ maple seed inspired blades for eVTOL application
Student Team: Jack Hicks (Team Lead), Harrison Childre, Guilherme Fernandes, David Gould, Lorne Greene, Muhammad Waleed Saleem, Nathan Shapiro
Faculty Mentor: Victor Maldonado
Selected: 2022
Crowdfunding Website
Web Articles: “Improving Ducted-Fan eVTOL Efficiency” (AvWeek), “Sky Taxies“
Urban Cargo Delivery Using eVTOL Aircrafts (University Of Illinois, Chicago)
A bi-objective optimization formulation minimizing total run costs of a two-leg cargo delivery system and community noise exposure to eVTOL operations
Student Team: Nahid Parvez Farazi (Team Lead), Amy Hofstra, Son Nguyen
Faculty Mentor: Bo Zou
Selected: 2022
Crowdfunding Website
Web Article: “PhD student awarded NASA grant to investigate urban cargo delivery systems“
Congestion Aware Path Planning for Optimal UAS Traffic Management (University Of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
A feasible, provably safe, and quantifiably optimal path planning framework considering fully autonomous UAVs in urban environments
Student Team: Minjun Sung (Team Lead), Christoph Aoun, Ivy Fei, Christophe Hiltebrandt-McIntosh, Sambhu Harimanas Karumanchi, Ran Tao
Faculty Mentor: Naira Hovakimyan
Selected: 2022
Crowdfunding Website
Web Article: “NASA funds UAV traffic management research“
AeroZepp: Aerostat Enabled Drone Glider Delivery System / Whisper Ascent: Quiet Drone Delivery (University of Delaware)
An aerostat enabled low-energy UAV payload delivery system
Student Team: Wesley Connor (Team Lead), Abubakarr Bah, Karlens Senatus
Faculty Mentor: Suresh Advani
Selected: 2022
Crowdfunding Website
Sustainable Transport Research Aircraft for Test Operation (STRATO) (Rutgers University, New Brunswick)
An open source, efficiently driven, optimized Active Flow Control (AFC) enhanced control surface for UAV research platforms
Student Team: Daulton James (Team Lead), Jean Alvarez, Frederick Diaz, Michael Ferrell, Shriya Khera, Connor Magee, Roy Monge Hidalgo, Bertrand Smith
Faculty Mentor: Edward DeMauro
Selected: 2022
Crowdfunding Website
Web Articles: “SoE Students Eligible for NASA University Student Research Challenge Award“, “Senior Design Team Captures NASA Research Challenge“
A recorded STRATO USRC Tech Talk
Dronehook: A Novel Fixed-Wing Package Retrieval System (University Of Notre Dame)
Envisioning a world where items can be retrieved from remote locations in a simple fashion from efficient fixed-wing UAVs
Student Team: Konrad Rozanski (Team Lead), Dillon Coffey, Bruce Smith, Nicholas Orr
Faculty Mentor: Jane Cleland-Huang
Selected: 2021
Crowdfunding Website
Web Article: “Notre Dame student team wins NASA research award for drone scoop and grab technology“
Aerial Intra-city Delivery Electric Drones (AIDED) with High Payload Capacity (Michigan State University)
A high-payload capacity delivery drone capable of safely latching and charging on electrified public transportation systems
Student Team: Yuchen Wang (Team Lead), Hunter Carmack, Kindred Griffis, Luke Lewallen, Scott Newhard, Caroline Nicholas, Shukai Wang, Kyle White
Faculty Mentor: Woongkul Lee
Selected: 2021
AIDED Crowdfunding Website
AIDED Project Website or Team Website
Web Articles: “Spartan Engineers win NASA research award” and “NASA Aeronautics amplification“; “Ross Davis & Gavin Gardner on The Guy Gordon Show“; “MSU Students Create Delivery Drone for NASA“; “Student drone project flying high with help from NASA“
A recorded USRC Tech Talk
Robotic Fabrication Work Cell for Customizable Unmanned Aerial Systems (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University)
A robotic, multi-process work cell to autonomously fabricate topologically optimized UASs tailored for immediate application needs
Student Team: Tadeusz Kosmal (Team Lead), Kieran Beaumont, Om Bhavsar, Eric Link, James Lowe
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Williams
Selected: 2021
Crowdfunding Website
RAV-FAB Project Website
Web Articles: “Drones that fly away from a 3D printer: Undergraduates create science nonfiction” and “3D printing breaks out of the box / VTx / Virginia Tech“
NASA VT USRC Web Article: “USRC Students Sees Success with Crowdfunding, NASA Grants“
Publication: Hybrid additive robotic workcell for autonomous fabrication of mechatronic systems – A case study of drone fabrication – ScienceDirect
Team Social Media: Instagram: @ravfab_vt; LinkedIn: @rav-fab; YouTube
View RAV-FAB USRC Tech Talk #1 or USRC Tech Talk #2
Real Time Quality Control in Additive Manufacturing Using In-Process Sensing and Machine Learning (Cornell University)
A high-precision and low-cost intelligent sensor-based quality control technology for Additive Manufacturing
Student Team: Adrita Dass (Team Lead), Talia Turnham, Benjamin Steeper, Chenxi Tian, Siddharth Patel, Akula Sai Pratyush, Selina Kirubakar
Faculty Mentor: Atieh Moridi
Selected: 2021
Crowdfunding Website
AMAS Project Website
Web Article: “Students win NASA challenge with 3D-printer smart sensor“
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
AVIATA: Autonomous Vehicle Infinite Time Apparatus (University of California, Los Angeles)
A drone swarm system capable of carrying a payload in the air indefinitely
Student Team: Chirag Singh (Team Lead), Ziyi Peng, Bhrugu Mallajosyula, Willy Teav, David Thorne, James Tseng, Eric Wong, Axel Malahieude, Ryan Nemiroff, Yuchen Yao, Lisa Foo
Faculty Mentor: Jeff Eldredge
Selected: 2020
Crowdfunding Website
AVIATA Project Website
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on AVIATA
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
Redundant Flight Control System for BVLOS UAV Operations (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
A redundant flight control system as a “back-up” to the primary flight computer to enhance safety of sUAS
Student Team: Robert Moore (Team Lead), Joseph Ayd, and Todd Martin
Faculty Mentor: John Robbins
Selected: 2020
Crowdfunding Website
Web Articles: “NASA Web Article“; “Drone Innovation Top Embry-Riddle Entrepreneurship Competition“
Follow the team’s progress at: https://www.facebook.com/Assured Autonomy
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
Multi-Mode Hybrid Unmanned Delivery System: Combining Fixed-Wing and Multi-Rotor Aircraft with Ground Vehicles (Rutgers University)
Extending drone delivery distance with a multi-mode hybrid delivery system
Student Team: Paul Wang (Team Lead), Nolan Angelia, Muhammet Ali Gungor
Faculty Mentor: Onur Bilgen
Selected: 2020
Crowdfunding Website
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
AVIS: Active Vortex Inducing System for Flow Separation Control to Improve Airframe Efficiency (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Use an array of vortex generators that can be adjusted throughout flight to increase wing efficiency
Student Team: Michael Gamarnik (Team Lead), Shiva Khanna Yamamoto, Noah Mammen, Tommy Schrager, Bethe Newgent
Faculty Mentor: Kelly Griendling
Selected: 2020
Go to AVIS team site
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on AVIS
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
NASA Web Article
Hybrid Airplanes – An Optimum and Modular Approach (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo)
Model and test powertrain to maximize the efficiency of hybrid airplanes
Student Team: Nicholas Ogden (Team Lead), Joseph Shy, Brandon Bartlett, Ryker Bullis, Chino Cruz, Sara Entezar, Aaron Li, Zach Yamauchi
Faculty Mentor: Paulo Iscold
Selected: 2019
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
ATLAS Air Transportation (South Dakota State University)
A multipurpose, automated drone capable of comfortably lifting the weight of an average person
Student Team: Isaac Smithee (Team Lead), Wade Olson, Nicolas Runge, Ryan Twedt, Anthony Bachmeier, Matthew Berg, Sterling Berg
Faculty Mentors: Marco Ciarcia, Todd Letcher
Selected: 2019
A recorded USRC Tech Talk #1 and USRC Tech Talk #2 on ATLAS
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
Software-Defined GPS Augmentation Network for UAS Navigation (University Of Oklahoma, Norman)
A novel solution of enhanced GPS navigation for unmanned aerial vehicles
Student Team: Robert Rucker (Team Lead), Alex Zhang, Jakob Fusselman, Matthew GilliamMentors: Dr. Yan (Rockee) Zhang (Faculty Mentor), Dr Hernan Suarez (Team Technical Mentor)
Faculty Mentors: Marco Ciarcia, Todd Letcher
Selected: 2019
Crowdfunding Website
A recorded USRC Tech Talk on this topic
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
UAV Traffic Information Exchange Network (Purdue University)
A blockchain-inspired secure, scalable, distributed, and efficient communication framework to support large scale UAV operations
Student Team: Hsun Chao (Team Lead) and Apoorv Maheshwari
Faculty Mentors: Daniel DeLaurentis (Faculty Mentor), Shashank Tamaskar
Selected: 2018
Web Article: “Student-developed communication network for UAVs interests NASA“
The recorded poster session at the TACP Showcase 2021
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Last Updated Apr 03, 2025 EditorLillian GipsonContactJim Bankejim.banke@nasa.gov Related Terms
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