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NASA’s BIG Idea Challenge

Posted on: August 4th, 2020 in: NASA Space Grant

THE 2021 BIG IDEA CHALLENGE:
Dust Mitigation Technologies for Lunar Applications

The Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge is an initiative supporting NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate’s (STMD’s) Game Changing Development Program’s (GCD) efforts to rapidly mature innovative and high-impact capabilities and technologies for infusion in a broad array of future NASA missions.

The 2021 BIG Idea Challenge provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to design, build, and test novel dust mitigation (or dust tolerant) technologies that could be used for lunar applications. This competition is intended to be an open innovation challenge with minimal constraints so that proposing teams can genuinely create and develop out-of-the-box solutions.

Eligibility: The BIG Idea Challenge is open to teams of undergraduate and graduate students at accredited U.S.-based colleges and universities officially affiliated with their state’s Space Grant Consortium. Non-Space Grant affiliated colleges/universities may partner with a Space Grant affiliated academic institution who takes a primary role on the project (i.e., the Space-Grant affiliated university must submit the proposal on behalf of the joint team).

Funding: A wide range of award sizes is expected (in the range of $50-$180K), depending on the scope of the work proposed. We anticipate funding several larger-scope awards (typically $125-$180K) and several smaller-scope awards (typically $50K – $124K). Proposers are encouraged to request what is actually needed to conduct the proposed work.

Notice of Intent Deadline: September 25, 2020