WC grad competing in NASA challenge

WC grad competing in NASA challenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janell Bradley
info@fayettecountynewspapers.com

 

"Come Fly with Us" is the invitation on the website designed by West Central High School grad Chase Grimm, who with two other friends at Iowa State University has accepted a challenge from NASA to design and build a device that addresses an authentic space exploration problem.

Grimm and fellow industrial engineering students Molly Statz and Jared Hall are part of a competition that began with orientation in March and will conclude with test week at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Aug. 3-7.

NASA is currently working on systems to take humans beyond low Earth orbit to explore the solar system. One of the destinations of interest is an asteroid. That's where three ISU engineering students have gotten involved in being chosen for the Micro-g NExT program.

The Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams program challenges undergraduate students to design, build, and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space exploration problem. 

Chase and his friends chose the Surface Sampling Device (SSD) challenge, designed to make teams create a device that will take a sample of the top layer of particulate on an asteroid or similar large body.

Among the requirements of their challenge was to create a device that has a dry weight of less than 10 lbs., would fit within a space with a volume of 8x8x18 in., and be compatible with a chlorine water environment. The device they create must use only manual power, be capable of one-handed operation, and maintain the orientation of the particles collected during transport back to Earth. The device must be capable of collecting samples from dust size particles to 0.125-in.-diameter spheres. It must also continue to function after a three-foot drop test onto concrete.

After creating a CAD (computer-aided drafting) model, the group has more recently revised its model to be representative of a fully functional device.

"We are currently testing a foam-board prototype and will make any necessary changes after evaluating its ergonomics, safety and functionality," Grimm explained. "This version will likely have a few more adjustments before we are ready to 3-D-print our device."

When the trio drive to Houston for test week, they'll do so at their own expense. Of the 11 teams in the competition, the three ISU engineering students are the only ones chosen to create a "Surface Sampling Device." Other students chosen for the program are from Yale, Cal Poly Pomona, SUNY Buffalo, UT-Dallas, among other schools. In addition to testing their sampling device, the ISU students will take part in a program on NASA internships, as well as tour the Spacesuit Lab, VR Lab and Astro Materials Lab at Johnson Space Center, in addition to other activities. They'll participate in a live webcast and hear a presentation, "Why It's Hard to Get to Mars," by astronaut Dr. Stan Love.

Although there are no monetary awards or scholarships associated with the project, Grimm said just having participated in the Micro-g NExT competition will be an asset to his resume.

"This competition is a great experience and teaches the participants a lot, and being able to say that you've worked with NASA carries a lot of weight," the ISU competitor added.

Of his chosen career, Grimm said, "I’ve wanted to be an engineer ever since I was in elementary school, so to finally be in college and studying my passion is what some might call 'a dream come true,' with no stretch of the imagination." 

This summer Chase remained in Ames, where is an undergraduate research assistant. While a student at West Central High School, he completed many of the general education requirements for his college education by taking credit courses through Northeast Iowa Community College and Hawkeye Community College.

"My favorite class was, and still is, math," noted Grimm, whose college minor is economics. "My biggest goal in college is to get an internship with a company where I can see myself having a career in the future.

Chase is the son of Jim and Pat Grimm of Maynard.

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