NASA Awards $1.5 Million at Watts on the Moon Challenge Finale
NASA’s recent culmination of the Watts on the Moon challenge marks a significant milestone in the quest for advanced lunar exploration technologies. The agency awarded $1.5 million to two U.S. teams for their groundbreaking solutions in energy management and storage, essential components for sustained human presence on the Moon under NASA’s Artemis missions. This competition, which spans two phases, has been meticulously designed to foster the development of power transmission and energy storage technologies crucial for long-duration Moon missions. The final phase of the challenge concluded with a grand event at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, bringing together some of the brightest minds in the field to showcase their innovations.
NASA’s Acting Program Manager for Centennial Challenges took the stage to congratulate the finalist teams, highlighting the profound impact of their solutions not only for space exploration but also for terrestrial applications. These technologies promise to revolutionize power systems on Earth by enhancing efficiency and resilience, thereby contributing to the broader goal of sustainable energy management. The event was a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of innovation, as four teams were invited to refine their hardware and deliver full system prototypes for the final assessment.
The competition’s rigorous testing phase was conducted at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, where the technologies were subjected to a vacuum chamber simulating the harsh conditions of the lunar south pole. This simulation included operating power systems for six hours of daylight followed by 18 hours of darkness, with the user located three kilometers away from the power source. The judges employed a Total Effective System Mass (TESM) calculation to score the solutions, with the lowest TESM value indicating the highest-performing solution. This meticulous evaluation process ensured that only the most efficient and reliable technologies were recognized.
Team H.E.L.P.S. from the University of California, Santa Barbara emerged as the grand prize winner, securing $1 million for their highly efficient power solution. Their innovative technology featured a special cable, energy storage batteries, and a variable radiation shield, demonstrating exceptional performance under simulated lunar conditions. Orbital Mining Corporation received the second prize of $500,000 for their high-performance solution, which also successfully completed the 48-hour test. These awards underscore the importance of fostering innovation through competitive challenges, driving advancements that are critical for future lunar missions.
Amy Kaminski, NASA’s Program Executive for Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing, emphasized the significance of these solutions in addressing NASA’s space technology priorities. The ability to survive and operate through the lunar night is a major challenge for sustained human presence on the Moon, and the solutions developed through this competition represent a significant step forward. The technology showcase and winners’ announcement ceremony featured presentations from the finalist teams, offering a glimpse into the future of lunar exploration. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen, further inspiring the next generation of innovators.
The Watts on the Moon challenge is part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges program, which is led by NASA Glenn and managed by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The program aims to stimulate innovation and foster the development of new technologies that can address the challenges of space exploration. HeroX, a platform for crowdsourced innovation, supported the administration of this challenge, ensuring a seamless and transparent competition process. The collaboration between NASA and HeroX exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in driving technological advancements.
The challenge’s focus on developing power transmission and energy storage technologies is aligned with NASA’s goals for the Artemis campaign, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Reliable power is essential for long-term missions, and the extreme conditions of the lunar environment provide a unique testing ground for new technologies. The successful technologies from this challenge could also have potential applications on Earth, such as improving battery performance in cold temperatures and enhancing grid resiliency in harsh weather conditions. This dual-use potential underscores the broader impact of the innovations fostered through the Watts on the Moon challenge.
The grand finale of the challenge, held on September 20th at the Great Lakes Science Center, was open to media and the public, providing an opportunity for wider engagement with the innovative solutions developed by the finalist teams. Media interested in covering the event were required to confirm their attendance by September 17th, ensuring comprehensive coverage of this landmark event. The awards ceremony was also livestreamed on NASA Glenn’s YouTube channel and NASA Prize’s Facebook page, allowing a global audience to witness the culmination of this exciting competition.
The finalist teams delivered full system prototypes for testing at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, where they were subjected to a challenging power system scenario with limited solar daylight and a distant power source. This rigorous testing process ensured that the solutions were not only innovative but also practical and reliable under real-world conditions. The use of the Total Effective System Mass (TESM) calculation as a judging criterion underscored the importance of efficiency and mass in the development of space technologies, aligning with NASA’s broader objectives for space exploration.
Kim Krome-Sieja, acting program manager for Centennial Challenges at NASA, highlighted the importance of advancing power generation technologies that can withstand the extreme conditions of the lunar environment. The prototypes developed through the challenge represent a first step towards deployment on the Moon, paving the way for future missions under the Artemis campaign. The success of these technologies in simulated lunar conditions is a promising indicator of their potential for real-world applications, both in space and on Earth.
The Watts on the Moon challenge is part of NASA’s broader efforts to advance the nation’s lunar exploration goals. By fostering innovation and supporting the development of new technologies, NASA is laying the groundwork for a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The challenge has also highlighted the importance of public engagement and collaboration, with the support of platforms like HeroX playing a crucial role in the competition’s success. The innovations developed through this challenge have the potential to transform not only space exploration but also energy management on Earth, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of NASA’s initiatives.
In conclusion, the Watts on the Moon challenge has been a resounding success, showcasing the ingenuity and determination of the participating teams. The innovative solutions developed through this competition represent a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable lunar exploration. As NASA continues to advance its Artemis missions, the technologies fostered through this challenge will play a crucial role in ensuring reliable power for long-duration Moon missions. The broader implications of these innovations for energy management on Earth further underscore the importance of fostering innovation through competitive challenges. The Watts on the Moon challenge has not only advanced NASA’s goals for lunar exploration but also demonstrated the power of collaboration and public engagement in driving technological advancements.