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Virginia Tech teams rise to the top at the COSMIC Capstone Challenge

Jama Green

18 Jun 2026

Three teams of undergraduates from Virginia Tech placed in the top ten at the second annual COSMIC Capstone Challenge (C3) Showcase sponsored by the Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities, a nationwide coalition working to accelerate domestic in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing capabilities.

Competing against 34 teams of more than 280 college students from around the country, the three teams from Virginia Tech finished third, fifth, and sixth overall. OSCAR@VT placed first in their theme, “Orbital Servicing”; Team C3PO placed first in their theme, “Lunar Operations,” and snagged the award for Best Prototype; and VT LUNA placed third in the “Lunar Operations” theme.

The goal of the four-day C3 Showcase was to demonstrate the ability to fabricate and assemble large structures in space without the restrictions launch puts on modern space vehicles. Teams had 30 minutes to present their concepts and answer questions from leading engineers serving as judges, including experts from NASA, the Air Force, federally funded research and development centers, and industry corporations. Teams presented in person and virtually at the El Segundo, California, campus of The Aerospace Corporation, the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

“I was impressed by each of our teams’ performances,” said Kevin Shinpaugh, a collegiate professor of aerospace and ocean engineering. “They listened and took to heart the feedback and advice they received from their faculty and industry mentors. By incorporating that feedback and adjusting their designs, they produced projects worthy of the many honors received at the showcase.”

First in theme and third place overall: C3PO

Team members of C3PO, in Goodwin Hall at the Senior Capstone Design Expo. Photo courtesy of Pat Artis.

When spacecraft land on the Moon, displaced lunar regolith can erode nearby structures, damage equipment, and create hazardous debris. The competition’s “Lunar Operations” theme addresses that challenge by asking competitors to design a small-scale landing pad constructed entirely from in-situ lunar materials. The design needed to be strong enough to endure both the mechanical loads and exhaust forces generated by the Griffin Lunar Lander Attitude Control System thrusters.

C3PO proposed to manufacture interlocking tiles that form a durable, modular surface capable of resisting thruster plume erosion and supporting a range of spacecraft from light to heavy classes. The team produced several interlocking tiles using lunar regolith simulant manufactured in a high-temperature kiln. In addition to placing third overall, C3PO earned the award for Best Prototype.

Third in theme and fifth place overall: VT LUNA

Members of team VT LUNA iat their final presentation — Members of team VT LUNA at their final presentation during the senior capstone design course. Photo courtesy of Kevin Shinpaugh.

VT Luna also tackled the issue of rocket plumes that displace lunar regolith, threatening the safety and stability of future lunar infrastructure. Their solution: a payload designed to construct landing pads on the Moon. These pads would mitigate ejecta risks, enabling safer, repeatable landings and supporting the development of a sustainable lunar colony.

First in theme and sixth place overall: OSCAR@VT

Members of team OSCAR@VT, in Goodwin Hall for Senior Capstone Design Challenge. — Members of team OSCAR@VT, in Goodwin Hall for Senior Capstone Design Expo. Photo courtesy of Pat Artis.

Satellite components naturally degrade over time, often causing critical mission elements like external instruments and batteries to fail before fuel is exhausted. OSCAR proposes a vehicle that can inspect, repair, and replace worn or outdated satellite parts, helping extend mission lifespans and maintain scientific value.

All three teams were advised by Shinpaugh and were formed as a part of the senior capstone design curriculum in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech.