Win exciting prizes through NASA’s 3D-printing challenge for students

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a new 3D-printing challenge for students all around the world, inviting them to design a 3D-printed object that can also be expanded.

The space agency recently launched the world’s first 3D-printer for space and now, NASA along with the ASME Foundation has issued a new “Think Outside the Box” challenge for students. They are offering exciting prizes including a trip to Las Vegas for a VIP tour of Bigelow Aerospace for the junior and teen winners respectively and an expedition-worthy inflatable tent for the finalists.

What is the challenge?

To win the “Think Outside the Box” challenge, you have to design an object for astronauts that can be printed within the bounds of the newest 3D printer on the space station (10cm x 10cm x 14 cm). The catch? The object has to be able to be assembled or expanded to become larger than that box that it is printed in.

The challenge is incremental in NASA’s mission to make it easier for astronauts to be able to take even less stuff in space, as it will allow them to 3D-print a lot of objects directly. As a result, smaller rocket payloads will be needed, saving a lot of cargo space and fuel.

How to submit your design?

Any student between 13-19 years of age can take part in the contest. You can take part in “Think Outside the Box” by going to the following link and signing up. All you have to do is submit your design. The deadline for submitting your application to is August 1, 2016.

The design guidelines and the contest rules can be found over here and here respectively.

Ten semi-finalists will be announced on the 8th of September, followed by the four finalists on the 20th and a finalist interview on the 29th of September. Finally, the winners would be announced on the 6th of October.