Energy News
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA issues challenge for public design of ejection system
NASA issues challenge for public design of ejection system
by Lisa Hornung
Washington DC (UPI) Jul 16, 2025

Dreaming of designing part of a rocket for NASA?

The space organization is offering a challenge for those who think they can solve a capability gap in its Stratospheric Projectile Entry Experiment on Dynamics (SPEED), a two-stage stratospheric drop test architecture.

SPEED is under development to bridge the state-of-the-art gap that many NASA flagship missions need to reduce system risk and allow more optimized designs via margin reduction, a NASA press release said.

"As current ejection system designs are conceptual, complex and untested, NASA is looking for alternative ideas that can be incorporated into the design of their next iteration of SPEED flight vehicles to increase system reliability," NASA said in a statement. "We are challenging the public to design innovative concepts for a separation mechanism that can be used to assess NASA and commercial re-entry vehicle stability."

The winnings: $7,000 in total prizes, including $3,000 for first place.

"A successful outcome of this contest is a credible 3D model of a separation mechanism that is both cost-effective by utilizing easy-to-manufacture methods (such as 3D printing or laser/water jet cutting) and Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) parts and doesn't rely on high-energy systems like explosives," GrabCAD reported.

The challenge began on Monday and ends Sept. 8. More details on the design specs and contest rules are on GrabCAD.com.

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
New drop tests advance Space Rider precision landing system
Paris, France (SPX) Jul 18, 2025
Space Rider, ESA's reusable orbital vehicle, has taken a major step forward in validating its precision landing system. The spacecraft, roughly the size of two minivans, is designed for missions ranging from pharmaceutical production to orbital platform servicing. It can remain in orbit for up to three months before autonomously returning to Earth using a parafoil-guided descent and skid landing. After a two-month campaign in 2024, ESA's team returned to the Salto di Quirra test range in Sardinia, ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
New UK weather records being set 'very frequently': report

Europe launches first geostationary atmospheric sounder to boost extreme weather forecasts

Bezos-backed methane-tracking satellite lost in space

UK thermal satellite firm wins ESA contract to deliver real time climate and security insights

ROCKET SCIENCE
ESA and Neuraspace develop autonomous satellite navigation technologies

Bogong moths rely on stars and magnetic fields to guide epic migrations

Breakthrough hybrid model restores orbit accuracy for BeiDou-3 satellites

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for Space Force

ROCKET SCIENCE
Proof of life: tracking elusive Amazon group to save their land

Two men who chopped down iconic UK tree handed jail sentences

Chloris Geospatial secures funding to expand forest carbon monitoring technology

Facing climate change, Swiss trees get mist before they're missed

ROCKET SCIENCE
Italy fines oil giant Eni over bioplastic market abuse

Acid vapor boosts durability of carbon dioxide-to-fuel devices

Turning CO2 into Sustainable Fuels Could Revolutionize Clean Energy

Cool science: Researchers craft tiny biological tools using frozen ethanol

ROCKET SCIENCE
Bifacial CuInSe2 solar cells achieve record efficiency on transparent substrates

Wind-driven tech powers solar panel dust removal without external electricity

UN chief urges AI companies to focus on renewable energy

Solestial to Accelerate Space Solar Array Production with $12M SpaceWERX Contract

ROCKET SCIENCE
Drone swarm explores turbulent airflows near wind turbines

Dogs on the trail of South Africa's endangered tortoises

UK ditches mega green energy supply project from Morocco

Trump admin ends halt on New York offshore wind project

ROCKET SCIENCE
Six university students drown during mine visit in China: state media

SAfrica's coal dependency puts economy at risk: report

Glencore CEO defends "tough decisions" as unions lambast job cuts

ROCKET SCIENCE
China probes Tibet ex-leader over bribes, 'superstitious activities'

China says 'deeply concerned' over deadly Cambodia-Thailand border clashes

After the revolution, Bangladesh warms to China as India fumes

China's abandoned buildings draw urban explorers despite risks

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.