Congratulations
Vatsal Jigneshkumar Thakkar
Winner!
Fleet Space gave secondary students in SA the chance to land their design on the moon. Huge thanks to our entrants!
The Brief
The not-too-distant future.
Fleet Space's Australian-built SPIDER device touches the Moon's surface for the first time. The SPIDER begins its search for sub-surface water ice, crucial to future exploration of the Moon and on to Mars.
On the device's side, the artwork of one young South Australian explorer rests silently above the lunar soil.
Let the future of space exploration inspire you.
The Details
Fleet Space gave secondary students in SA the chance to land their design on the moon.
- Read The Brief and get inspired! What is the future of space exploration?
- Follow the Tech Specs to design a graphic that'll fit where it needs to.
- Entries closed 8th December - winner was announced 14th December.
- The winning design will be 3D printed into the shell of Fleet’s groundbreaking SPIDER miniature seismic device that's heading to the Moon.
- The SPIDER device will then be deployed near the Moon’s south pole to collect seismic data as part of the Moon to Mars Initiative.
Judging criteria:
- Originality - does it stand out from the crowd? (20%)
- Design - is it planned and executed beautifully? (20%)
- Inspiration - what is the story behind it? (submitted writing - 20%)
- 3D printing suitability - does it meet the Tech Specs? (40%)
Entries closed:
8th Dec, 4pm ACDT
Winner was announced:
14th Dec, 11am ACDT
Tech Specs
The SPIDER is an ultra-compact device built for space. Your design will be 3D printed directly into the metal shell.
Long story short: there's not much room, and there's no colour printing. This SPIDER is really going into space, so it needs to be small and sturdy. Your design will be scaled down to fit the SPIDER.
Design dimensions:
- DESIGN SIZE: 64mm (W) x 20mm (H) x 1mm (inset depth)
- INSET: 2 depths, 0mm (flush with surface) and 1mm (inset)
- LINE THICKNESS: 0.4mm minimum
- SIZE ON SPIDER: 32mm (W) x 10mm (H)
Design tips:
- USE THE INSET - think of the two inset layers as a cut-out, where "flush" is in front, and "inset" is behind. This makes the inset layer a little darker, like it has been stamped into the surface.
- CLEAN LINES & CURVES - 3D printers love smooth shapes and consistent lines. If your design relies on super thin lines, sketching or sharp corners, it probably can't be 3D printed. "0.4mm minimum thickness" is like a firm ballpoint pen line.
- LESS IS MORE - 64mm x 20mm is small, and the design will be half that size on the SPIDER. At this scale, complex designs might not pop like they do on an A4 page or a laptop screen. Think about what's important to your concept and champion those elements.
* Actual size is HALF the design size: 32mm x 10mm
Frequently Asked Questions
The Competition
What's The Brief?
In short: a design inspired by the future of space exploration. See The Brief for more.
What could I have won?
The winner's design will land on the moon as part of the Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission. The winner will also receive 2 representative custom SPIDER devices featuring their design - one for keeps and one for school. Lastly, a guided tour of Fleet Space HQ for the winner and 20 guests.
Is the design really going to the Moon?
Yes! Fleet Space is landing a device on the Moon, and the winning design will be 3D printed into its metal shell.
What are the key dates?
Entries closed 8th Dec, 4pm ACDT. The winner was announced 14th Dec, 11am ACDT.
What were the judging criteria?
Originality - does it stand out from the crowd? (20%). Design - is it planned and executed beautifully? (20%). Inspiration - what is the story behind it? (submitted writing - 20%). 3D printing suitability - does it meet the Tech Specs? (40%)
Who were the judges?
The judging panel will include Fleet CEO Flavia Tata Nardini, Fleet CMO Chloe LeClerc, SA Education Minister Blair Boyer and Australian Space Agency Head Enrico Palermo.
What were the design dimensions?
The design area is 64mm X 20mm, with two inset depth layers. See Tech Specs for more details.
Was the competition for individuals or teams?
Individual entries only, please. We want to see what the future of space exploration looks like to you.
How many entries could I submit?
One entry per student.
The Mission
Who is Fleet Space Technologies?
We are explorers. Fleet is an agile space company based in South Australia with a mission to connect the Earth, Moon and Mars. We design spacecraft for explorers of new worlds using cutting-edge communications and space technologies to enable the next giant leap in human civilisation. Read more.
Why are Fleet going to the Moon?
Landing the SPIDER device on the moon will demonstrate Fleet's ability to use cutting-edge tech to see further beneath the surface of the Moon, and eventually Mars. This includes finding essential resources like water and building materials for human colonies.
What is the SPIDER?
The SPIDER is Fleet's Seismic Payload for Interplanetary Discovery, Exploration and Research. It's a miniature seismic station, designed to record seismic data that can help characterise the lunar regolith and assist in the search for ice deposits, vital for future human colonisation. Read more.
What is the Moon to Mars Initiative?
It's a federal government program, led by the Australian Space Agency as part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It provides funding to Australian businesses and researchers to join NASA's inspirational endeavour to go forward to the Moon and then Mars. You can find out more about the program here.
When is the SPIDER landing on the Moon?
NASA has many missions planned for the Moon as part of the Artemis Program, which is also supported by unmanned robotic missions as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. We'll keep you updated on when to expect the launch and which mission the SPIDER will be catching a ride on!
More to ask? Email us at marketing(at)fleet.space
In partnership with
