We don’t normally post stories on design contests, but this one is different: it’s from NASA.
NASA has partnered with GrabCAD to launch a contest to design a small-scale bioreactor. The interesting part is the winning designs could lead to an actual bioreactor used in deep space.
NASA’s Space Synthetic Biology Project intends on developing technology to produce nutrients for humans from food microorganisms. That might not sound particularly appealing, but when you’re billions of kilometres from home, it might be all you have.
The concept is to use a bioreactor to house the microorganisms, where they will produce the nutrient material for harvest. Dormant microorganisms and feedstock material would be shipped into space, where they would await use. When required, the supplies would be placed into a bioreactor and the nutrients would pour out of the reactor.
The project’s goal is to develop a 3D-printed version of the bioreactor, so that only the microorganisms and feedstock need be transported. The bioreactor itself would be 3D-printed in space when required.
Plenty of background information and specifications have been provided by the project to enable almost any competent CAD designer to attempt a design for the contest.
Why enter this contest? It turns out there are substantial prizes available, with the winning entry receiving US$3,000 in GrabCAD credits, with additional prizes for second and third place. They will also receive a mission patch from prior BioNutrient missions.
So far there are only six entries to this contest, so the odds are good to win, if you can develop a competent design for the deep-space bioreactor.
Who knows, maybe one day you will be eating space porridge that came from a bioreactor based on your design.
Via GrabCAD
