Wisconsin Researchers Secure NASA Funding for Innovative Space Refueling Technology
In a significant boost for space exploration, a team of researchers from Wisconsin has received a $500,000 award from NASA to further develop a pioneering refueling system for spacecraft. This advancement could play a crucial role in facilitating missions to the moon and Mars.
Kevin Crosby, who serves as a professor at Carthage College and heads the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, leads the project. He also holds a position as a visiting senior scientist at NASA. Together with his students, Crosby is working on a technique known as microgravity ullage trapping, which aims to enhance the efficiency of refueling spacecraft in space.
Speaking on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” Crosby highlighted the importance of their work, stating, “Our idea is fairly unique, so it got some attention from this competition.” The technology is particularly significant for ensuring that spacecraft can be refueled mid-mission, thereby simplifying return trips from distant locations like Mars.
The funding comes from NASA’s TechLeap Prize, an initiative designed to foster technological innovations that hold substantial interest for the space sector. Out of over 200 applicants, Crosby’s team was among the ten selected for the prize.
Semaje Farmer, a senior physics major at Carthage College and a member of the team, likened their project to the plumbing systems essential in space missions. He elaborated on the necessity of developing sustainable infrastructure for space travel, explaining, “We need to start building up a more sustainable infrastructure for these kinds of things. And the easiest way to start that is to get this refueling thing settled, because we can’t go all the way to Mars then come all the way back safely if we have to load up the rocket with so much fuel. Instead, we just want to be able to refuel it when it gets there so that it has the fuel it needs to return after the mission is over.”
The prize money will primarily fund the labor and materials needed to advance the project from concept to mission readiness over the next nine months. Successful participants will have the opportunity to test their technology in an actual NASA flight.
Crosby noted that the TechLeap Prize offers a distinct advantage over traditional grants by providing immediate funding, enabling a more expedited path towards mission readiness. However, the ongoing federal government shutdown has posed challenges, delaying planned visits from NASA scientists to assess the project’s progress.
Farmer, who recently completed an internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, expressed his enthusiasm for the innovative environment at NASA. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I’ve had the opportunity to intern at many different places, and some are just regular run-of-the-mill corporate offices, and being at NASA, you see so much more passion and in the work that they’re doing there. And being there kind of gave me a nice guide for where I want to go in my future, in the kind of environment that I want to work in.”
