E.D.I.T.H - Space Apps Challenge

E.D.I.T.H| Virtual Planetary Exploration

Virtual Planetary Exploration

Your challenge is to create interactive 3D models of equipment (e.g., planetary geology tools) that future space explorers can use for activities like exploring a planetary surface.

FMPGT

Summary

Our team EDITH develops an idea and design for equipment that could potentially connect all the tools and the devices the astronauts use to gather samples from mars' surface in one equipment by a digital handle. The main focus of this equipment is to reduce the number of tools used that will help astronauts to be more flexible and facilitate the gathering tasks. In addition to reducing the amount of equipment, they will need to manage and operate on the planet's surface, Allowing for easier operating and more effective research and exploration.

How We Addressed This Challenge

Our project focuses on developing a planetary geology tool that will help astronauts in their future exploration of mars in gathering samples by reducing the amount of equipment an astronaut will have to use on the planet sight it effectively reduces the difficulty of exploring it. Allowing an astronaut to be more flexible. It will help them accomplish many tasks in a short time and save effort.

How We Developed This Project

The project was developed from the need to make astronauts trips less cost consuming and much more effective. As such the first thing that came to mind was reducing the number of tools an astronaut will have to deal with and maintain to continue a functional mission and operate and explore more freely. From NASA’s data, we concluded some of the most essential kits in exploring and operating a mission on Mars. Using Blender as a modeling software we managed to get a good practical design in addition to a functioning scanner unit to help the tool become more effective.

One of the main inspiration sources that helped bring this idea to reality was Mars’ countless attempts at reaching such a difficult yet full of potential goal. As we researched into NASA’s old rovers as well as astronaut equipment. It was clear that each tool did its mission to explore and improve on the mission as well as operate under different circumstances and scan different samples and collect them. While rovers couldn’t handle them all. A human can. And as such giving an astronaut as many tools as possible was a necessity. From there the idea of gathering a handful of them into one bloomed.

The main tools used in the design are tongs, rakes, sample scales, grabbers, and scoops. As for devices, APXS, RAD, and ChemCam were used. All of these are explained in this portfolio. Next to designing and upload them on a website with full explanation using software coding languages such as javascript, CSS, and HTML. In addition to making a fully-fledged model using blender. This all helps establishing the realism of the project as well as give us a chance to test its functionality.

This didn’t come without problems, however. None of the team members were graphic designers nor had a huge background with making models. Despite that, the team managed to use the program by using internet tutorials and using models from NASA reaching a good amount of experience to make the model come together and become functional.

How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project

We have gathered multiple data and information about the tools and scanners that composes the design of our tool from multiple NASA sources. One of the more remarkable ones is NASA's Mars Trek mission that helped identify multiple life indications on Mars allowing us to improve on our tool through designing and focusing on adapting to missions of that degree. Researching the older missions such as Viking 1 and 2 as well as curiosity allowed us to understand what a researcher will need the most in a trip to Mars, helping us make the tool more essential and beneficial.