A team of students working remotely through ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ’s Worldwide Campus earned Best Prototype and innovation honors at NASA’s , proposing a novel system to store energy on the moon.

The team, whose members live across the U.S. and met in person for the first time at the event, was the only fully remote team to present at the competition, which challenges university students to develop bold concepts that push the boundaries of space exploration.

Naiyar Shaman, the team lead and a rising senior in Engineering, said that months of collaborating through video calls laid the groundwork for the team to succeed.

“Being fully remote created occasional communication and coordination challenges throughout the year, but it did not hold us back,” he said. “By the time we presented, we knew both the project and each other extremely well, which made the transition to presenting together in person feel natural.”

In March, the team advanced to the 2026 RASC-AL final round, joining 13 teams from elite universities, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The students earned their place by proposing a system that provides multi-day energy storage on the moon without the need to transport large battery systems from Earth.

The Embry‑Riddle team put forward a system that would capture solar heat during the lunar day and then store it in the lunar soil, or regolith. During the two-week lunar night, the stored heat would be converted into electricity. The system would also include a nuclear power system and electrical grid to provide a continuous source of power.

In the simplest terms, the concept is to use the moon as a battery, according to Shaman.

At the competition’s finals, held this month, the team earned the award for their project, titled “Advanced Utilization of Resources for Energy & Viability Off-Earth (AUREVO),” sharing the honor with a team from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Team members said the recognition was especially meaningful because their access to hardware, laboratory space and testing equipment was challenging, as they worked from their homes in Florida, Oregon, Colorado and Wisconsin.

“Fortunately, with support from the university and our advisors, we were able to successfully build and test the system,” said Kelly McElwain, a sophomore in Engineering. She described winning the Best Prototype award as “an incredible moment.”

Their proposal also earned the RASC-AL judges’ informal distinction as the Most Innovative/Revolutionary Concept.

“This team's advancement in and recognition by a prestigious NASA competition showcases how Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus delivers exceptional results,” said Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. “The students designed and successfully defended a sophisticated NASA-relevant system, and they gained experience and built meaningful professional connections that will benefit them as they advance in their careers.”

Dr. John Watret, chancellor of Embry-Riddle Worldwide, called the team’s achievements a testament to not only the students’ technical expertise and creativity but also to their remarkable ability to collaborate across great distances.

“These students completed their work without ever having been in the same room together,” he said. “Their success demonstrates the power of teamwork and innovation and exemplifies the kind of leadership and problem-solving that Embry-Riddle students bring to the challenges of the future.” 

The RASC-AL competition is intended to encourage connection between academia and the aerospace community in order to promote innovation, collaboration and workforce development to further NASA’s exploration goals.

“The RASC-AL program allows students to demonstrate their ability to transform innovative concepts into technically sound studies, with emphasis on technical rigor, clear communication and systems-level thinking,” Christopher Jones, program sponsor for RASC-AL and chief technologist for the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, said in a about the winners. “These are the hallmarks of effective engineering that we’re looking for and reflect the standards required for real-world aerospace problem-solving.”

Dr. David Canales Garcia, assistant professor of Aerospace Engineering and the team’s primary faculty advisor, was unable to attend the finals, but he followed the team’s presentation remotely.

“It was wonderful to see the team defend their project so effectively, even when the questions were challenging,” he said. “Reaching the finals of the RASC-AL competition is already a major achievement, and receiving both recognitions is truly outstanding.”

Dr. Mahmood Mousavi, an assistant professor in Embry-Riddle Worldwide’s College of Aviation, joined as faculty advisor to the team starting in April, and he traveled with them to the finals, held in Cocoa Beach, Florida, from June 2-4.

“We held meetings every other day via Microsoft Teams to discuss progress and any possible refinements, ensuring that everyone remained aligned and motivated,” Mousavi said. “What truly stood out was the team's commitment in the final stretch. They worked together until four or five in the morning during the last week before the competition. This incredible effort was a true reflection of their passion and drive.”

McElwain, who lives in Wisconsin and aspires to work as a test engineer with NASA or SpaceX, said she appreciated interacting with the competition’s review panel, which included experienced aerospace professionals, many with decades of industry experience.

“They were generous with both their time and insights,” he said.

Shaman, who just began an internship at NASA Langley, also valued the networking opportunities.

“I was able to speak with NASA personnel, industry professionals, judges, faculty members and students working on highly advanced aerospace concepts,” he said. “Several of those conversations gave me valuable career advice and potential opportunities to remain involved in research.”

Mousavi said the team succeeded because its members’ strengths complemented one another. He cited the leadership and coordination of McElwain and Shaman; the technical expertise of Mahroo Hamedani, who is earning a master’s degree in Aeronautics; the computer-aided-design (CAD) skills of Mechanical Engineering junior Carlon Oliver; and the work ethic and dedication of Aeronautics junior Sahory Benavides Villareal.

They “delivered a project that exceeded all expectations,” Mousavi said.