Two engineering students at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal State Poly) are co-leaders of a team that won $200,000 in the first NASA TechLeap challenge. According to the prize portal, the Bronco Space Club at Cal Poly Pomona designed the Bronco Ember technology which can detect, track, and log nascent wildfires.
Participants in the NASA TechLeap submit an application to develop a specific technology and then compete for awards to build the payloads. In early 2022, the NASA TechLeap Prize will open for registration and submission. Click here for more information.
A team in the Systems Engineering, Architecture and Knowledge (SEAK) Laboratory, which is part of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, was also one of the three groups to advance to the second round and receive funding in 2021. Their award-winning tech is the Satellite for Natural and Artificial Plumes (SNAP), which uses cameras to help NASA payload identify and classify plumes in Earth’s atmosphere using neural networks. It then tracks identified plumes and saves images for operator analysis.
“The ability to select and fly technologies this quickly can help us change the pace of space for everyone,” said Christopher Baker, program executive for NASA’s Flight Opportunities and Small Spacecraft Technology programs. “Advancements in autonomous observation technologies will be crucial for future missions, and we look forward to supporting these teams as they quickly advance their technologies and prepare for flight testing.”
During Payload Build Round 1 and Payload Build Round 2, winners will have the opportunity to compete for additional awards of $200,000 and $100,000 each. NASA intends to award a suborbital flight test to each of the winners in summer 2022.
We’re inviting innovators in small spacecraft technologies to compete in a new challenge!
🏆 Register for the TechLeap Prize for an opportunity to win funding to build payloads & access to a suborbital flight test: https://t.co/9e2guF2gKL pic.twitter.com/sGD0gLxxQB
— NASA (@NASA) June 12, 2021
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