MIDAS

The Micrometeoroid Impact Detection and Suppression (MIDAS) is a sharp edge detection and removal device designed for NASA's Micro-g NExT Challenge. The tool is designed to detect sharp edges on the exterior handrails of the International Space Station using loop tape and cover the sharp edges using Kapton tape. These sharp edges are caused by micrometeoroid impacts which cause craters with sharp edges on the aluminum handrails of the ISS. These sharp edges pose a risk to damaging a spacewalking astronaut's gloves. At the end of the tools development, the tool was tested by divers at Johnson Space Center's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) in similar conditions to what is expected during a spacewalk. This project was supported by the Illinois Space Society).

The project culminated in a technical manuscript and a talk on the development of the tool at the 2019 International Astronautical Congress in the Student Team Competition. The project was awarded the Hans von Muldau Award as part of this competition as well as the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Technical Project of the Year award.