March 26, 2018
A team of UT Austin aerospace engineering sophomores — the Space Bevos — are already making impressive strides in the future of space exploration.
The team is one of only 25 university across the nation selected to advance to phase II in NASA’s Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT) competition. Micro-g NExT aims to produce real tools to aid in future spacewalks or exploration missions. At the end of phase II, professional divers at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) will test the final product in simulated microgravity at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The Space Bevos’ mission is to design and manufacture a prototype for a tool that astronauts can use to cut and retain the zip-ties that restrain cargo and wires outside the International Space Station. Students had to find innovative ways to meet the challenge requirements and overcome design obstacles and constraints. Along with size and weight limitations, their product must be able to function properly in a zero-gravity environment.
Phase I of the competition included developing and designing a solution and submitting a written proposal to NASA detailing how the solution met all the requirements and fit all the constraints. The team has received invaluable advice and insight into the design process from their faculty advisor, Srinivas Bettadpur, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and the director of UT Austin’s Center for Space Research.
Cameron Lane, team leader for the Space Bevos, said the design is similar to conventional wire cutters at first glance. It is, however, sized to be used without much effort when wearing a space suit. In addition, there are no sharp edges exposed, except when the tool is in use, so it is safe to handle around fragile equipment.
After being selected, the Space Bevos began running computer simulations on the design to ensure it would survive use, even in the worst possible conditions. They are currently manufacturing the tool, and the team members are hard at work bringing their design to life in the mechanical engineering machine shop using a computer numeric controller (CNC) machine. Once a final design is complete, they will submit a Test Equipment Data Package to NASA for final approval to test the tool in the NBL in May.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far,” Lane said. “At the end of the day we’re trying to accomplish something worthwhile and represent UT well.”
The Space Bevos team began work on this project through the Texas Space Grant Consortium's (TSG) Design Challenge. TSG is also a sponsor of the program.
