The Mobile Extreme Environment Research Station (MEERS) Presented to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
The Mobile Extreme Environment Research Station (MEERS) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University respectfully requests $25,000 from the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to support its Embry-Riddle MEERS Program. The Mobile Extreme Environment Research Station (MEERS) is a studentrun project to design and build a mobile laboratory out of a 1976, 31-foot Airstream trailer for the purpose of testing and advancing space technologies. This unique project has three primary goals. First, we are developing a mobile facility to support student research projects, ranging from human interactions with autonomous systems to behavioral health and performance related to longduration space missions. Second, MEERS will serve as a hands on laboratory to design, test, and then redesign technologies for long-duration space habitats such as architecture, power and resource utilization, and communication systems. Third, MEERS provides an excellent way to inspire interest in science, engineering, technology, and research for outreach events to math to students at all grade levels. When complete, MEERS will provide crew quarters for four individuals, a galley, hygiene facilities, and workstations to facilitate data collection, science, and communication with an off-site MEERS Mission Control (MCC) center. Because MEERS is mobile, the facility can be transported to any location in the United States to support research. With Gulfstream s partnership, we can move quickly to finish needed hygiene facilities, water tanks, computer networks, and crew quarters. Gulfstream s critical support of the MEERS project will allow students from multiple disciplines and degree programs to work together and gain practical experience in the system development process. Thus far, the project has involved over 100 students from Human Factors, Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Maintenance Science, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering through class-related projects. Outside of class, over 20 students volunteer their time and effort to renovate MEERS, develop marketing and fundraising efforts, and submit to local and national scientific conferences. Gulfstream s support will not only provide national exposure for Embry-Riddle as a leading research center for habitat design and space technologies, but it will also place the company s name and products in front of thousands of potential customers/employees as the project team promotes MEERS to universities and high schools nationwide. Please join us in this one-of-a-kind opportunity to promote student research in habitat design and space technologies and inspire generations of future space researchers. Page 2 PROJECT GOALS Develop a mobile facility to support student research projects Provide a hands on laboratory to design, test, and redesign technologies for long-duration habitats Showcase student research for university events and outreach to middle and high school students
The Mobile Extreme Environment Research Station (MEERS) To Date The renovation hit the ground running as soon as MEERS was on university property. The Airstream contained furniture and materials as old as 1976 that we had to remove to begin the rebuilding process. Over 200 personnel-hours were then devoted to strip the clear coat off the exterior of the vehicle to remove oxidation of the aluminum and return it to a mirror-like finish. Next, as we began to peel back each layer of the trailer we soon ran into complications, finding rust on many structural components and the need to fully replace the fresh, grey, and black water tanks. The renovation process also included stripping away interior vinyl coverings to expose the original aluminum so that we can use minimal lighting by reflecting low-power LED lights off the interior walls. Recent improvements include: 1) the addition of solar panels on the roof of MEERS combined with a battery storage system, 2) installation of bamboo flooring designed to provide easy access to areas beneath the floor to support future renovation, and 3) purchase of desks and monitors for workstation areas. The intended designs will be built as prototypes in our MEERS Lab in the Human Factors Department.From there students will be able to model the galley, or hygiene area with foam core and other modeling materials to assess the design for approval to be built in MEERS. Touchscreen interfaces can be acquired and programmed to evaluate the user computer interaction and also be placed in the scaled section of MEERS in the lab. Page 3
The Mobile Extreme Environment Research Station (MEERS) Concept The section at right views from left to right the crew quarters, hydroponic area, galley station, followed by the crew work station on the far right. Each station is separated by storage to allow for some privacy and to also have designated areas. The flooring in the crew quarters is made of bamboo and the rest of the trailer flooring can be outfitted of different materials. Crew Quarters Hydroponic Area Galley Station Work Station The image to the right is a section viewing the entry side. From left to right are the crew work stations, galley area, hygiene facility, and the crew quarters. The hygiene area will have an all in one shower, toilet, and sink area. MEERS will also have the ability to clean and reuse water. Work Station Galley Area Hygiene Area Crew Quarters The crew quarters will allow each crew member the ability to have privacy and their own space. Each unit is equipped with storage, lighting, power for laptops and tablets, and isolation from the crew members. Each bed will be composed of layers of memory foam cut to fit each unit. The structure of the crew quarters can be made of plywood and aluminum to keep the weight down in the back end of the trailer. Crew Quarters Page 4
MEERS: A Tool for Research, Design and Outreach RESEARCH MEERS will offer a unique opportunity for students and faculty to conduct experiments, collect data, evaluate technologies related to space operations, and study behavioral factors in isolation and confinement. Example areas include: Human Factors research on space technology, architecture, and habitat design A mobile Mission Control platform for monitoring satellites or other unmanned systems Test facility for green technologies, such as solar power, water reclamation, and aeroponics-based food production, to support future long-duration space operations Space habitat analog for behavioral research on the effects of prolonged isolation and confinement, team interactions and performance, stress, and fatigue DESIGN MEERS provides a dynamic environment for developing and testing prototype systems. Combined with equipment and facilities in our laboratory on campus, students and faculty can conduct usability testing on technologies for space suits, information displays, or habitat configuration. In addition, students can transform ideas from initial designs using computer simulations and models into actual mock-ups and prototypes for continued testing. OUTREACH MEERS offers an exciting way to promote Embry-Riddle and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. We envision transporting MEERS to elementary, middle, and high schools in Florida and surrounding states to demonstrate space-related technologies and allow students to be astronauts for a day by participating in simulated missions. We also work with the Space Frontier Foundation s Teachers in Space program to bring high school teachers to Embry-Riddle s Daytona Beach campus for summer workshops on human factors and space medicine. Other opportunities include: NASA-sponsored projects to investigate crew functioning and optimal habitat configurations for sound mitigation. Academic competitions such as the exploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge; a NASAsponsored, university-level challenge designed to engage and retain students in STEM by developing innovative habitation-related concepts and technologies. The Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Deep Space Habitat (DSH) project will offer multiple X-Hab awards of $10K - $20K each to design and produce functional products of interest to the DSH project as proposed by university teams according to their interests and expertise. Working with Final Frontier Design, Inc., a commercial space suit company in New York, to conduct usability testing on suit components. Page 5
Support the Future of Space Research and Technology Embry-Riddle welcomes all forms of partnership. Direct financial support allows the team to pay costs of materials and components required for the ongoing transformation of the Airstream trailer into the MEERS project mobile laboratory. Your support will help the team create a project that will get national exposure and position Embry-Riddle as a leader for research in habitat design and space technologies. PARTNERSHIP LEVELS Generation X Partnership: more than $25,000 Prominent logo on MEERS and documents Prominent logo and description on display in the MEERS Lab. Logo on prototypes for interior design assessments. All benefits from Apollo and Gemini Levels Apollo Partnership: $10,000 to $24,999 Recognition in all press releases and media events Logo on every presentation to industry, government, and academia Logo and link on front page of website All benefits from Gemini Level Gemini Partnership: up to $9,999 Logo and link on sponsor page of team website Recognition in all presentations to industry, government, and academia BENEFITS OF PARTNERSHIP Support a diverse range of research Allow students to gain hands on experience where it relates to industry Gives opportunity for team members to give back to the community by promoting STEM with outreach activities Direct and practical exposure of your company to a multiple academic departments and the general public Company exposure and recognition for your contribution on publications and events Tax deductible donation (501(c)3) For more information about how you can support MEERS, please contact: Lyndse Costabile Director of Coporate Relations and Development 386-226-7205 lyndse.costabile@erau.edu Page 6