NASA Micro-g NExT Team Lead

August 2024 - June 2025

NASA has long represented the pursuit of the unknown through science, engineering, exploration, and innovation. Across human spaceflight, Earth science, and technology development, NASA brings together multidisciplinary teams to solve problems that often have never been solved before.

As one of many kids who dreamed of becoming an astronaut, NASA symbolizes curiosity, collaboration, persistence, and the belief that ambitious ideas can become reality when humanity works together. I am extremely grateful to have contributed to that mission through NASA's Micro-g NExT program, where I not only learned a huge deal but also made the younger generation aware of such opportunities in hopes of inspiring the next great scientists.

Project Description

Design an extravehicular (EVA) tool, or tools, that you use to attach two overlapping pieces of softgoods together while accessing only one side of the material.

Important Challenge Requirements:

The device and any related components weigh no more than 5 lbs. in Earth gravity.
The stowed device shall fit within a volume of 12 in. x 12 in. x 12in.
The device should operate using only manual power.
All components of the device must sink.
The device must be made of materials listed in the NBL Approved List.

Design Process

Prototype 1 - Submitted Concept

Established basic approach, but physical model showed specific aspects needed to be reconsidered and simplified.

Prototype 2 - Concept Generation

Explored alternative mechanisms and focused on solving the limitations of the submitted concept.

Prototype 3 - Proof of Concept

Validated the core "caulk gun" mechanism, ergonomics, and feasibility before committing to a higher-fidelity design.

Prototype 4 - Complete Prototype

Incorporated successes from the previous iterations and combined the required tools into a complete device.

NASA Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory Test Week

Tool Station

Completed the Qualification Qtatus Qssessment Review (QSAR) to verify that the device met safety requirements before testing in the NBL.

Live Testing

Operated underwater by a diver-certified test subject wearing an EVA-style suit, replicating spacewalk-like constraints.

Mission Control Center

Delivered a detailed operations plan that guided the diver through the correct procedure for completing the task (attaching two overlapping pieces of softgoods).

Neutral Buoyancy Lab

Underwater conditions are used to simulate aspects of reduced-gravity EVA operations.
Fun Fact: Just the top 3 inches of this pool contain enough water to completely fill an Olympic-sized pool.

Complete Test Video

Successfully delivered the full NBL operations plan, creating four attachment points in the process.
Exceeded the minimum attachment-removal requirement by approximately 160%, with the completed attachments sustaining about 16 lbf before removal.
Received positive feedback on the device's intuitiveness, ergonomics, and ease of operation during testing.
Demonstrated a fail-safe design feature that allowed the system to accomplish its intended function despite component-level failure.

Outreach Activity

Student Engagement

Outreach Presentation

One of the most rewarding parts of the Micro-g NExT experience was sharing our work with younger students. Our team visited a local high school to introduce students to the NASA Micro-g NExT program, our design challenge, and the engineering process behind our solution. We combined a technical presentation with a collaborative "Moon Base" activity to make the experience interactive and encourage students to think creatively about engineering and space exploration.

Important Contributions

Authored a comprehensive design proposal and operations plan that satisfied 20+ design requirements, including structural integrity, corrosion, material selection, and mass/volume constraints.
Created SolidWorks CAD models and performed finite-element analysis to assess stress concentrations, achieving a factor of safety of four through iterative design refinement and prototype testing feedback.
Fabricated and assembled more than six low- and high-fidelity prototypes using 3D printers, routing tables, and a manual mill.
Led outreach with a local high school and STEAM club, increasing student awareness of engineering education and career opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

Requirement-Driven Design:

Translating technical, safety, and operational constraints into practical engineering decisions.

Iterative Prototyping & Validation:

Using CAD, FEA, prototyping, and testing together to refine performance and improve overall design.

Human-Centered Design:

Designing hardware around the user by considering ergonomics, dexterity, safety, and operational limitations.

Technical Communication:

Communicating design intent, safety considerations, procedures, and results clearly through documentation and presentations.

Come with Me to NASA's Johnson Space Center!

"Houston, we've had a problem here"

Flight-Certified Saturn V Rocket

NASA's Space Exploration Vehicle

Hustle!

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