After months of developing ideas for the future of space exploration, the teams taking part in The Curiosity Contest are preparing for a major milestone. On 13 June, participants will gather at CometLab for Workshop 3, the final workshop before Competition Day, where they will present their projects to a jury of space industry professionals later this year.
Exploring sustainable space exploration
Since February, students from different academic backgrounds have been working on concepts inspired by one of the biggest challenges facing future space missions: how to make exploration more sustainable. This year’s competition focuses on reuse and in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU), encouraging teams to explore how resources already available in space could support future missions.
The projects cover a wide range of ideas. One team is investigating how Martian soil could be used to build habitats on Mars. Another is exploring whether carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere could help keep rover equipment free from dust. Other concepts look at extracting resources from the Martian atmosphere, producing more sustainable propellants, and balancing the growth of satellite communications with the needs of radio astronomy.
From concepts to prototypes
Workshop 3 marks a shift from developing ideas to refining and testing them. Participants will take part in 3D modelling and 3D printing workshops, giving them the opportunity to transform their concepts into physical prototypes. Using Fusion software and CometLab’s facilities, teams will further develop the designs behind their projects and explore how their concepts could work in practice.
The workshop will also include a systems engineering session designed to help teams assess the progress of their projects and identify what still needs to be done before the final competition. The day will conclude with a networking session where participants can exchange ideas with professionals from across the space sector.
Preparing for Competition Day
Following the workshop, teams will focus on completing their final concept reports, which are due on 12 July. After the summer break, attention will turn to preparing presentations for Competition Day on 2 October, when the projects will be presented to a jury of industry experts.
Supporting the next generation of space talent
Students and young professionals will be able to attend Competition Day and see the results of months of work and development. The organisers also hope to welcome more industry professionals to future editions of the programme, both as mentors and as workshop experts sharing their knowledge with the next generation of space talent.
For now, however, the focus is on Workshop 3, where concepts that began as ideas earlier this year will take another step towards becoming tangible solutions.From Mars habitats to sustainable propellants: student teams gear up for the final stage of The Curiosity ContestÂ
Photo Gallery: Teams Participating in the Curiosity Contest
