Innovative Solutions for Lunar Rescue Systems Sought
HeroX Opens Crowdsourcing Competition
A new crowdsource challenge focused on ensuring astronaut safety during NASA's Artemis III mission has been launched by HeroX.
"It's always exciting to see a challenge that welcomes bold and novel solutions from all over the globe."
Kal Sahota, HeroX
Artemis III will be the first ever crewed landing on the Moon's South Pole region. The challenge ... South Pole Safety: Designing the NASA Lunar Rescue System ... seeks innovative, lightweight, and easily deployable designs that allow one astronaut to safely carry their partner back to safety, operating independently of a lunar rover.
During the mission, the crew will face environmental hazards like harsh terrain, low gravity, and extreme temperatures that pose significant challenges. A critical concern is the safety of astronauts during extravehicular activities (EVAs), including the ability for a single astronaut to potentially transport an incapacitated crewmate up to 2 km without a lunar rover.
This initiative aims to enhance safety measures for future lunar missions and advance human space exploration. Creativity and expertise could bridge this critical gap, enhancing the safety measures for future lunar explorers. By addressing this challenge, you have the opportunity to contribute to the next "giant leap" in human space exploration.
After the submission deadline on January 23rd, NASA subject matter experts will review the submissions to help HeroX determine the ultimate challenge winners. NASA may work with the winners and U.S. academic institutions to ensure the best ideas are put on a path toward further research and development.
"It's always exciting to see a challenge that welcomes bold and novel solutions from all over the globe," said Kal K. Sahota, president and CEO of HeroX. "Our expansive network could help connect the people with the most promising ideas to the experts with the best resources."
Up to five participants who submit the top ideas will share a total prize purse of $45,000. The Prize is open to anyone age 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, as long as United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply).