group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Aidan Magann, Senior Sena Nitta, Senior Kamanakai Natividad, Senior Alex Ptak, Senior Nicholas Coy, Senior Tyler Griscom, Junior,
Lead Presenter's Name
Aidan Magann
Faculty Mentor Name
Sathya Gangadharan
Abstract
Softgoods play an essential role in spaceflight, providing thermal protection for sensitive equipment and serving as a defense against debris encountered in space. During Extravehicular Activities (EVA), astronauts may be required to fasten softgoods and maintain the connections between existing components and newly installed ones. The 2025 NASA Micro-G NExT Challenge sought to develop a device to meet this need. SEAM (Softgoods Element Attachment Mechanism) provided NASA with an effective solution to this engineering challenge. Team SEAM developed a manually powered, astronaut-friendly fastening tool designed to simplify the installation of softgoods in a microgravity environment. After a nationwide call for engineering proposals, SEAM was selected as one of six designs to move forward to testing at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas. For testing, SEAM’s internal components were manufactured from polycarbonate due to its strength and durability. The device utilized multi-material 3D-printed fasteners, or “bolts,” made with TPU-95A for flexibility in specific areas and polycarbonate for strength in the remainder of the structure. The bolt’s sharp tip was reinforced with electroplated nickel to improve multi-layer puncture capability. Designed for ease of use in space, SEAM featured a main body modeled after a cable tie gun, providing intuitive operation. Bolts were stored in a polycarbonate drum magazine, allowing for rapid reloading and minimizing the frequency of resupply trips during EVA. A quick-connect rail system securely attached the magazine to the main body, permitting easy removal and replacement when necessary. With its ergonomic design and efficient fastening mechanism, SEAM enhanced astronaut workflow and demonstrated a simple, effective approach to softgoods attachment in space. After testing at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, SEAM was one of only two designs nationwide to successfully complete the mission objectives.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
No
NASA Microgravity Operations: S.E.A.M (Softgood Element Attachment Mechanism)
Softgoods play an essential role in spaceflight, providing thermal protection for sensitive equipment and serving as a defense against debris encountered in space. During Extravehicular Activities (EVA), astronauts may be required to fasten softgoods and maintain the connections between existing components and newly installed ones. The 2025 NASA Micro-G NExT Challenge sought to develop a device to meet this need. SEAM (Softgoods Element Attachment Mechanism) provided NASA with an effective solution to this engineering challenge. Team SEAM developed a manually powered, astronaut-friendly fastening tool designed to simplify the installation of softgoods in a microgravity environment. After a nationwide call for engineering proposals, SEAM was selected as one of six designs to move forward to testing at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas. For testing, SEAM’s internal components were manufactured from polycarbonate due to its strength and durability. The device utilized multi-material 3D-printed fasteners, or “bolts,” made with TPU-95A for flexibility in specific areas and polycarbonate for strength in the remainder of the structure. The bolt’s sharp tip was reinforced with electroplated nickel to improve multi-layer puncture capability. Designed for ease of use in space, SEAM featured a main body modeled after a cable tie gun, providing intuitive operation. Bolts were stored in a polycarbonate drum magazine, allowing for rapid reloading and minimizing the frequency of resupply trips during EVA. A quick-connect rail system securely attached the magazine to the main body, permitting easy removal and replacement when necessary. With its ergonomic design and efficient fastening mechanism, SEAM enhanced astronaut workflow and demonstrated a simple, effective approach to softgoods attachment in space. After testing at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, SEAM was one of only two designs nationwide to successfully complete the mission objectives.