Each year, Lewisville School of Science & Technology (SciTech) students join peers nationwide in the NASA HUNCH program. Launched in 2003, NASA HUNCH engages high school students in real-world projects, directly supporting NASA’s missions. Through collaboration with NASA engineers, scientists, and astronauts, students design and build items with the hopes that they will be used aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and other NASA initiatives.
This hands-on experience exposes students to practical engineering, manufacturing, research, and teamwork skills. At Lewisville SciTech, participation in the HUNCH program equips students with critical STEM skills and firsthand insight into the aerospace industry, encouraging innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The experience helps students prepare for meaningful careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, while fueling a passion for space exploration.
“Opportunities like the NASA HUNCH program allow students to apply what they’ve learned in school to practical, real-world challenges,” said Lewisville SciTech engineering teacher Mark Stauffer. “Not only will this prepare them for the jobs of the future, but it also promotes confidence, knowing they can compete at the highest levels.”
On April 9, several teams from Lewisville SciTech traveled to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they presented their innovative projects addressing space exploration and astronaut well-being
to a panel of NASA experts and STEM professionals. ResponsiveEd is proud to announce that one of these teams got selected as a finalist for the NASA HUNCH Final Design Review, with additional SciTech teams earning recognition as semi-finalists and honorable mentions for their outstanding work.
Finalist Spotlight: Team Happitat
Team Happitat focused their project on the psychological health of astronauts during long-duration lunar missions. They developed a lunar habitat to address key challenges like isolation, sensory deprivation, disrupted circadian rhythms, and sleep difficulties.
Their design featured built-in countermeasures to enhance mental wellness and a refined solution to help astronauts maintain strong psychological resilience in space.
Semi-Finalist Highlight: Team S.E.L.E.N.E.
Team S.E.L.E.N.E. (Sustainable, Efficient, Long-Endurance, Nomadic Exploration) developed a Lunar Camper to support extended 7-day research expeditions on the Moon and Mars. Their mobile habitat allows astronauts to travel to and work at remote research sites while maintaining safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Emphasizing adaptability and durability, their design contributes a promising vision for future planetary exploration.
Other standout projects included a Lunar Landing and Payload Delivery System to improve precision landings and secure cargo deployment, and an autonomous robot designed to scout and analyze topography at potential landing sites, providing essential reconnaissance data for future missions.
Lewisville School of Science & Technology is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in grades 7-12. To learn more about Lewisville SciTech and how they empower the innovators of tomorrow, or to apply, visit SciTechTx.com.
