Allen ISD recently hosted a NASA HUNCH Preliminary Design Review (PDR) event. High school teams from Prosper, Prosper Walnut Grove, Plano Academy, and local home-school groups gathered for this milestone in the NASA HUNCH program, a nationally recognized initiative designed to develop the next generation of workforce-ready innovators through hands-on, real-world engineering challenges.
NASA HUNCH, which stands for High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware, has prepared students for careers in science, technology, and engineering for over two decades. The program invites high school students to collaborate on projects that may one day be used in NASA missions, with applications ranging from Earth’s atmosphere to the moon and beyond.
During the PDR event, student teams shared conceptual designs and prototypes with NASA engineers, astronauts, and industry professionals. This review provided valuable feedback and insight ahead of more formal project evaluations later in the HUNCH process.
Projects presented by Allen ISD students reflected a range of NASA mission needs and scientific challenges. One team developed KairoScope Studios, a media-focused project explaining the purpose of the Lunar Gateway and its role in space science and radiation research. Another team created a Cosmic Dust Collector, aimed at safely capturing particles from the exterior of the International Space Station.
Additional projects included PHLOEM, a passive hydroponics system designed for growing plants in microgravity, and RadVita, a lightweight nutrient supplement developed to protect astronauts’ health from the effects of radiation exposure. A hardware-focused team also showcased a project called Slayton-Ross Manufacturing, which involved designing a new ISS locker to be used aboard the station’s express rack.
The event provided students with an opportunity to engage in technical dialogue, receive mentorship, and refine their work based on expert input. PDR events like this mirror the early stages of NASA’s own design process, helping students gain experience with professional design standards and expectations.
