A UNT College of Engineering team is working to make space exploration a little easier on astronauts. The team is one of 11 selected nationwide for the eXploration Systems and Habitation Academic Innovation Challenge, or X-Hab, in which undergraduate students have been tasked with designing, building and characterizing a functional prototype of a microgravity gas-liquid separator for an air revitalization system.

Led by faculty advisor Huseyin Bostanci, associate professor of engineering technology, the team's goal is to better remove carbon dioxide from manned space vehicles and habitats, ultimately ensuring the availability of oxygen for astronauts. As part of its acceptance through the X-Hab challenge, the team will receive $30,000 in funding from the National Space Grant Foundation to develop its prototype.