On Wednesday 2 October astronauts Rick Hieb and Franz Viehböck will visit TU Delft as part of the NL Moonshots '24 program. In an event co-hosted by the faculties of Aerospace Engineering and Civil Engineering and Geosciences, the astronauts will be interviewed about their (space) missions by PhD candidate Space Exploration, Jip Matthijsse. Their main task at the event is to give feedback to four teams of students who will present their moonshot - a smart, innovative solution to a major societal challenge - to them. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to witness the next generation of moonshots — join us at TU Delft on October 2!

About NL Moonshots '24

From September 30 to October 6, 2024, the XXXV Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers will take place in the Netherlands. This event, which will bring together over one hundred international astronauts, is the driving force behind the NL Moonshots '24 program.

Over the past six months, 100 student teams have been developing their moonshots —smart, innovative solutions to a major societal challenge. Drawing inspiration from the extraordinary perspective of astronauts in space, these moonshots can cover a wide range of topics: from humanity’s relationship with Earth to the cutting edge of technology and artificial intelligence.

Program

10:30 -11:00 | Interview astronauts Rick Hieb and Franz Viehböck

11:00-12:00 | Moonshots presentations incl. feedback from astronauts and public

Meet te Astronauts

• Rick Hieb: A seasoned NASA astronaut and aerospace engineer, Rick has flown on three Space Shuttle missions and holds the distinction of participating in the first-ever three-person spacewalk during the STS-49 mission to repair a satellite. He now teaches at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
• Franz Viehböck: Austria’s first astronaut, Franz flew to the Mir space station in 1991, conducting experiments in medicine, physics, and technology. He now plays a key role in Austrian industry and international business development.

Meet the Student Teams

• Team AI Asteroid Destroyer Force Field: This team has designed a ring of AI-powered detectors that can identify and deflect incoming asteroids by kinetic impact, helping to protect Earth from future asteroid strikes.
• Team RLC: Their moonshot revolves around spinning an asteroid to create a 1g environment hub using centrifugal force, complete with a hollow center where you can walk on the ceiling!
• Team Twenty-Five: This team proposes a revolutionary orbital constellation designed to build spacecraft directly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using modular systems, fuel depots, and advanced propulsion technology.
• Team Newsail: Their innovative aerosail can be deployed on ships to reduce emissions by 5%, aiming to make the shipping industry more sustainable.

Location

Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Lecture hall A
Gebouw 23
Stevinweg 1
2628 CN Delft