{"id":9804,"date":"2015-01-30T23:02:35","date_gmt":"2015-01-31T04:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=9804"},"modified":"2015-01-30T23:02:35","modified_gmt":"2015-01-31T04:02:35","slug":"student-winners-selected-in-future-engineers-3-d-printing-in-space-tool-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=9804","title":{"rendered":"Student winners selected in “Future Engineers 3-D Printing in Space Tool Challenge”"},"content":{"rendered":"

An announcement on winners of the\u00a0Future Engineers 3-D Printing in Space Tool Challenge<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Students Selected for Winning Designs of 3-D Printed Tools for Astronauts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"3d-challenge-mpmt-hillan[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Teen Winner Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool<\/a>
\ndesigned <\/em>by Robert Hillan.\u00a0Image Credit:\u00a0Robert Hillan<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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. \u201cIf an astronaut tool breaks, future space pioneers won\u2019t 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\u2019ve never seen before.\u201d said Niki Werkheiser, NASA\u2019s In-Space Manufacturing Project Manager at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/p>\n

This challenge tapped into the creativity and ingenuity of our nation\u2019s future engineers to imagine interesting solutions to potential mission related problems. Models were received from 470 students across the United States.<\/p>\n

Robert Hillan\u2019s Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool has \u201ca 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\u201d. Robert will watch from NASA\u2019s Payload Operations Center with the mission control team as their design is printed aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

\"3d-challenge-space-planter-vernon[1]\"<\/a>Junior Winner Space Planter<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>designed
\nby Sydney Vernon\u00a0Image Credit: \u00a0Sydney Vernon<\/em><\/p>\n

Sydney Vernon\u2019s Space Planter model \u201cwould be used to grow plants on the ISS while being really water conservative. First, put the disc into the “mouth” of the creature. Tie a string to each of the ears and dangle them down through the hole in the disc into the lower part of the monster. Fill this lower part with water. Fill the top part with dirt and plant a seed. The plant will actually suck up any water it needs from the two strings dangling into the water, so it is very water-conservative. Also, it looks like a cute monster!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"sydney-vernon-3dp[1]\"<\/a><\/div>\n
Sydney Vernon of Bellevue, Washington during her finalist interview <\/a><\/em>
\nwith Astronaut Reid Weisman.\u00a0Image Credit:\u00a0Adrienne Gifford<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Sydney\u2018s school will receive a 3-D printer. \u201cFirst, I had a great time coming up with and designing my space tool.\u00a0Then, I got told I would get a free 3-D print of what I’d made.\u00a0 And today, I got to meet two NASA astronauts!!\u00a0 This has been awesome!\u201d<\/p>\n

Winners were selected after a panel of expert judges interviewed\u00a0the four highest rated winners from each age group. The panel members were\u00a0Werkheiser, Mike Snyder, head of research and development, Made In Space Inc.;\u00a0and NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Dr. Yvonne Cagle.<\/p>\n

The top 10 entries from each age group are:<\/p>\n

Teen Group (Ages13-19)<\/strong><\/p>\n