Awards include $7,000 team stipends & $18,000 in prizes!
UIUC teams, please contact Dr. Laura Villafane Roca. lvillafa@illinois.edu
The 2024 HuLC competition seeks near-term, innovative solutions for Human Landing System (HLS) challenge areas…specifically addressing the mitigation of lunar Plume-Surface Interaction (PSI).
Interested teams have a full year to prepare and submit proposals by the deadline of March 4, 2024. HuLC solicits proposals for innovative, systems-level solutions that can help NASA understand, mitigate, and manage the impacts of lunar PSI – with the ability to be implemented within 3-5 years. The potential solutions teams can propose to could include, but are not limited to, the following categories:
- Trade Studies on Landing Trajectories that Minimize PSI
- Reduction / Mitigation of Erosion (Cratering) and Ejecta during Descent, Landing, and Ascent
- Development of PSI Flight Instrumentation / Measurement Methods and Concepts
- Tracking Dust During Descent, Landing, and Ascent
- Instrumentation Performance Through the Dust Cloud During Landing
- HLS Asset Safety (ejecta damage, excessive lander heating, etc.)
- PSI Modeling and Validation
HuLC is open to teams of undergraduate and graduate students at accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are encouraged to apply. Based on a review of initial proposals received by March 2024, up to 12 teams will be selected to continue developing their proposed concepts. Each finalist team will receive a $7,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in a competitive design review at a Forum in Huntsville, Alabama in June 2024.
This is only a brief excerpt of the 2024 HuLC competition.
Please read the full, printable 2024 Challenge Guidelines by clicking the button below.