NASA's eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge

Since 2011, NASA has selected 49 X-Hab student concepts to address space habitation systems including advanced fabrication concepts, plant growth, atmosphere management, waste handling, and recycling. This paper provides a status and overview of submissions received, selected projects, success stories, and lessons learned. It also details methods employed by NASA to manage and promote the X-Hab competition, summative information on participating organizations, and next steps for the activity. The X-Hab project assists NASA in optimizing technology investments, fosters innovation and facilitates technology infusions that address specific, real-world challenges being faced by NASA as the agency works to send humans further into space than ever before.