Space (Past Projects)

Neumann Space need to convert power supplied from a satellite into a high voltage to drive their patented plasma thruster. A DC-DC converter is needed for this, but as is the case in most space applications, there is a desire to make the converter small and lightweight. This project investigated the use of a technology known as a piezoelectric transformer (PT) to reduce the size of the converter. PTs, unlike bulkier magnetic transformers, can be made small while still being efficient. A prototype circuit was developed using an off-the-shelf PT to investigate if this technology could efficiently produce a high voltage to drive the thruster.

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Group member

• Michael Palmer

Within the next 20 years, national space agencies will return to the moon with the intention of establishing permanent lunar bases. But how? Getting to and surviving on the moon is expensive and dangerous, and the materials required for building functional bases don’t exist yet. Lunar masonry, produced by melting and casting lunar soil, has been proposed to be a promising material for lunar applications. This project builds on existing research to understand how viable lunar masonry truly is for lunar applications. We investigated the production process of lunar masonry using finite element simulations of the casting a cooling processes, and manufactured samples of lunar masonry using simulated lunar soils. This work has allowed us to characterize how easy it is to melt and cast lunar soil, and to constrain the conditions needed to do so.

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Group member

• Piers Lewis

The lunar surface is blanketed in extremely fine, snow-textured material, and covered with craters and boulders. Current lunar rovers either struggle or are unable to traverse some of this terrain due to their rigid-body, wheeled designs. Due to the efficiency and effectiveness with which animals move through complex environments, biomechanics may provide a potential solution for an alternative means of exploration on the lunar surface. The goal of this project was to develop a snake-like robot using soft robotics that can traverse difficult terrain on the Moon. An incremental prototyping method was used to design and develop the body of the robot, while a Japanese paper cutting art was used to create the outer layer of the robot. The final robot prototype demonstrates a promising approximation of snake locomotion, suggesting that a snakelike robot may be effective in traversing uneven terrain on the lunar surface.

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Group member

• Madison Byass
• Cameron Hancock
• Jacob Gohra

Medications used on space exploration missions are presumed to lose their efficacy and potency as their physical and chemical properties could be altered by space environment conditions. Drugs are formulated in different forms by the pharmaceutical companies. Research shows that traditional liquid formulations of space drugs are less stable due to their inherent aqueous media factor. However, nanoemulsification of medication is proposed to benefit space applications by enhancing product stability both on Earth and in space. 

This project focuses on comparing the stability of a traditional liquid formulation (suspension or solutions) and a nanoemulsion for potential space use under simulated space conditions and further determining which formulation is most appropriate for space travel. 

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Group member

• Amreen Jahan

When plumes of hot plasma erupt from the sun with a typical mass equivalent to ten thousand Burj Khalifa towers, the solar system’s unprotected rocky planets are stripped of their atmospheres, oceans, and potential to host any life. Earth, however, is protected by its magnetic field – allowing life to develop and thrive. During the onslaught of solar plasma, the magnetic field is buffeted and compressed, and its outer layers peeled back like an onion – broadly referred to as a geomagnetic storm. These magnetic effects have direct consequences for us on the surface, with the potential to cause power outages, internet interruptions, satellite damage or destruction, infrastructure degradation, and shut down radar and radio-based communication and navigation technologies. They also cause stunning displays of the aurora australis and borealis and create complex behaviours in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment, inviting study into these regions.

Group member

• Tristan Camilleri

Bio-inspired Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles (FWMAV) are a challenging but exciting area of development within the world of drone development. Their small, efficient frames and novel construction set them apart as surveillance and exploration drones. FWMAVs, being inherently unstable systems are notoriously difficult to control, have necessitated research into the biological systems inspiring the FWMAV's design. Our project investigates the mechanisms of controlling FWMAVs, and has worked to develop functional FWMAVS, and their required control systems, such that controlled flight may be achieved.

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Group members

• Joshua Lloyd
• Dylan Bosch
• Malte Simon Vollendorff
• Abiy Tsegaye Demissie

With the rough terrains found on the moon and other planetary bodies, the rover design has become inefficient. Traditional rovers are large and slow-moving, often facing challenges in exploring and adapting to rough landscapes so new traversal methods are required. Over time, several animals have evolved “shape-shifting” features to overcome obstacles and adapt to their environment. Inspired by the three-banded armadillo, an alternative solution is to develop a robot that overcomes these traversal issues by transforming between two modes of travel - walking and rolling. From walking on all fours to rolling as a ball, each robot’s motion was tested through various terrain types and is capable of navigating through sandy, rocky, and flat terrain. This introduces more opportunities for significant advancements in rover design and promises to shape the future of enduring space exploration.

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Group members

• Rezan Ahmed
• John Antony De Leon
• Monica Dela Rosa
• Sebastian Deluca
• Rohan Renu

Virtual reality has become an increasingly common and effective tool in the training of pilots, military personnel and more recently, astronauts. It has also provided the ability to develop our understanding of how people respond in given situations, such as an unforeseen emergency, without exposing them to the risks that these situations would otherwise bear. Our project explores how virtual reality technology can be coupled with a moving platform to create a maximally realistic simulation of these situations. Specifically, we have developed a platform that allows a person to virtually drive a rover on the moon, all while feeling the effects of the terrain and any obstacles as if they were really there. The Lunar Rover VR Simulator has the potential to be used to further our understanding of how an astronaut may react in an emergency, allowing us to develop improved emergency-response training and safety contingencies.

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Group members

• Jake Geyer
• William Robinson

Myriota provides global connectivity services for Information of Things (IoT) technology using low-Earth-orbit satellites. IoT refers to a network of collective devices that connect and exchange data between other IoT devices and the cloud. IoT is utilised across the world for many applications including agriculture, defence, and transportation, however, access to this technology is not accessible to everyone due to its cost. My project works with Myriota to develop an optimal estimation algorithm to track objects using satellites. I explore various techniques to develop a fast and highly accurate algorithm with both noisy and limited data. My work has the potential to further reduce the cost and energy consumption of Myriota's world-leading solutions for the Internet of Things.

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Group member

• Vivienne Niejalke

The challenges posed by the lunar surface, like its lack of atmosphere, uneven landscape, and loose regolith, demand innovative solutions for exploration and habitation. To address these limitations and establish a sustainable lunar infrastructure, it's vital to develop methods that enhance ground compaction. The aim is to evaluate compaction techniques suitable for lunar scenarios, by comparing their performance on simulated lunar soil. The focus will be on two methods: vibrating drum roller and 4-sided roller compaction. Testing will be conducted using MAB-1 lunar simulant, resembling JSC-1A that closely mimics lunar regolith. The assessment will take place on a scaled model rig in Thebarton, also in a vacuum chamber to replicate lunar conditions. This testing aims to accurately replicate lunar soil properties and gauge the effectiveness of the techniques based on parameters like density, dust emission, and influence depth, offering a measurable gauge of their success in improving lunar soil properties.

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Group member

• Mazen Aintarazy
• Salvador Bartkowski
• Michael Cerbo
• Reon Evaristo 

What does it take to bring machine learning capabilities to satellites? We have to work within the power, size, and processing constraints of modern satellites, which cannot accommodate the conventional ML-enabling hardware. This work aims to address this gap in knowledge by exploring the practical aspects of on-board machine learning through the task of space debris detection. By using optimised models on a dedicated microchip (Edge TPU), we can achieve state-of-the-art speed and accuracy at a fraction of the power cost.

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Group member

• Emily Zhang

As humans are beginning to reach further for the stars, learning how to explore space is becoming more important. When we travel to different moons and planets, we need to be ready to face the different conditions that we will find there. Celestial bodies that are smaller than the Earth have lower gravity forces due to their lower masses. This can be seen when astronauts appear to float slowly downwards after they jump while on the Moon. The goal of this project is to simulate these different gravity forces, so that space researchers can design technology that is prepared to face these environments. The project has seen the design and development of a "Gravity Compensation System for Space Research" in the University of Adelaide's EXTERRES Laboratory. This system attaches to different objects, primarily RC rovers, and simulates a new gravity on them, such as that of the Moon or Mars.

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Group members

• Harrison Abbott
• Benjamin Marshall
• Dylan Burzacott
• Jacob Thomas
• Emily Ellis
• Jordan Vihermaki

As the angles of attack increases, the airflow over the wing will separate from the surface, thereby resulting in a decrease in lift, then stall will occur. In order to delay flow separation and stall, aerospace engineers mount a simple aerodynamic device called "vortex generator (VG)" on wings. This project aims to understand the mechanism of VG and better control flow separation over air foils. In this project, l will design VGs for the NACA 23012 air foil based on the optimization works for VG parameter in the literature, and study how the VGs affect the performance (lift coefficient, drag coefficient and stall angle) of NACA 23012 air foil using CFD method.

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Group member

• Yiding Feng

NASA has committed to establishing the first permanent habitable base on the Moon by 2030. The concept of an inflatable structure has been considered an attractive solution due to its low weight to habitable volume ratio, allowing transportation to the Moon with relative efficiency. Additionally, it is suggested that this structure be buried under lunar regolith to offer radiation protection. The aim of this project was to assess the feasibility of burying an inflatable habitat in lunar regolith to ensure it remains protected from radiation once inflated whilst minimising earthmoving requirements. This project focuses on using a cut-place-bury-inflate method for burying and inflating the habitat. A series of scaled tests were conducted by burying and inflating models of various geometries and materials in lunar simulant. Comparisons of surface displacement and post-inflation cover versus initial cover depth were made to assess the most optimal geometry and material for inflatable lunar habitats.

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Group members

• Audrey Christiansen
• Holly Randell
• Aditi Rao
• Karen Zhao

We have lift-off! Our mission: make space veggies a reality to sustain astronauts on deep space journeys. We explored the use of agarose hydrogel infused with biochar and a novel nitrate and phosphorous enriched solution to improve plant growth in space environments. Our study aims to enhance seedling growth, root and stem lengths, and overall plant health while potentially revolutionizing sustainable food production in space. We investigated this challenge by altering the composition of our hydrogel, substituting biochar for activated carbon, and introducing zeolite to create micro and macropores. We then assessed seedling growth, root and stem lengths, and chlorophyll levels in different media. Our findings showed promising results, with improved shoot mass and growth in the modified hydrogel. This breakthrough could pave the way for more efficient plant growth in space, ensuring fresh, nutritious vegetables for astronauts and addressing the challenge of sustaining life during deep space exploration.

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Group members

• Jillian Tan
• Lelum Rathnayake

The first step in humanity's goal to populate our solar system, is to construct a formidable lunar base. However, long-term manned missions face many formidable challenges. One initial and vital challenge is the building material required to create reliable shelter from the harsh environment of space. Another challenge is maintaining low costs to stay within strict budgets. Our project aims to reduce the difficulty and price of lunar habitat construction, by investigating the feasibility of a building material that utilises regolith, an existing lunar material. Our building material consists of epoxy resin and lunar regolith. The experimental procedure involved preparing specimens of two regolith simulants with differing mix ratios. The specimens were tested mechanically and analytically to determine their individual strength and structure. The experiment produced promising results, with certain samples showing desirable levels of compressive and flexural strength. Thus, indicating a high possibility of implementation in real world applications.

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Group members

• Dimitrios Dianos
• Oliver Manglaras
• Maxwell Floreani
• Tengtian Gu
• Xavier Shiu

Returning humans to the Moon relies on establishing lunar infrastructure through site preparation and excavation. The Research and Education Regolith Advanced Surface System Operations Robot (RE-RASSOR) platform, developed by the Florida Space Institute (FSI) and NASA, facilitates affordable and accessible research into autonomous solutions for off-planet exploration, resource extraction, and infrastructure development. The 2022 RE-RASSOR honours project expanded FSI's work, identifying several key areas for improvement. Through a rigorous systems engineering approach, detailed designs for the electronic drivetrain, tool-joint gear system, and autonomous tool interchange system have been created for the 2023 iteration. Furthermore, excavation tool attachments, including a dozer, roller, backhoe and rotating bucket drum have been designed to progress research of lunar site preparation. Implementation of these designs has resulted in an improved RE-RASSOR with enhanced mobility, tooling capabilities, and autonomous functionality. To further advance research of site excavation robotics, progression to the autonomous capabilities can be developed.

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Group members

• Miller Backman
• Costi Marangos
• Hayden Krueger
• Joah Nenke
• Nicholas Mosca
• Oli John

Numerous space exploration organisations are seeking to establish long-term habitation of the Moon, which requires the establishment of a lunar shelter for astronauts to live and work during the construction of a complete lunar base. While structure designs have been proposed, the interaction of these structures with their lunar soil foundation, both during construction and operation, has not been sufficiently studied. This project utilises numerical modelling to examine the impact of various loading scenarios on the structure and soil. The findings of this project allow us to identify failure mechanisms and challenges associated with the construction of a lunar shelter, advancing the development of a feasible lunar shelter.

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Group members

• Grace Beck
• Luke Nathan
• Man Fung Chow
• Tsz Hei Ng