Build Augmented Reality
Interfaces for Astronauts
Build Augmented Reality
Interfaces for Astronauts
Collaborative Lab for Advancing Work in Space
2026 NASA SUITS Challenge
Collaborative Lab for Advancing Work in Space
2026 NASA SUITS Challenge
University teams from across the country are invited each year to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to present and test their interfaces on simulated lunar or Martian terrain for researchers, designers, and ISS officials. Teams are challenged to create either a Pressurized Rover or an augmented reality (AR) display to help astronauts work safely and efficiently in space.
This past May, CLAWS was 1 of 10 teams that had the opportunity to go, and received guided feedback from experts in the field, toured restricted facilities, and welcomed evaluations from the ISS Flight Director and an official astronaut.
University teams from across the country are invited each year to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to present and test their interfaces on simulated lunar or Martian terrain for researchers, designers, and ISS officials. Teams are challenged to create either a Pressurized Rover or an augmented reality (AR) display to help astronauts work safely and efficiently in space.
This past May, CLAWS was 1 of 10 teams that had the opportunity to go, and received guided feedback from experts in the field, toured restricted-access facilities, and welcomed evaluations from the ISS Flight Director and
an official astronaut.
University teams from across the country are invited each year to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to present and test their interfaces on simulated lunar or Martian terrain for researchers, designers, and ISS officials. Teams are challenged to create either a Pressurized Rover or an augmented reality (AR) display to help astronauts work safely and efficiently in space.
This past May, CLAWS was 1 of 10 teams that had the opportunity to go, and received guided feedback from experts in the field, toured restricted-access facilities, and welcomed evaluations from the ISS Flight Director and an official astronaut.
The Collaborative Lab For Advancing Work in Space
The Collaborative Lab For Advancing Work in Space
CLAWS
CLAWS is an interdisciplinary project team at the University of Michigan. Our 5 core teams—Development, Hardware, UX, Research, and Business—work together to design augmented reality interfaces for astronauts. Development is split into AR, AI, and Web teams, with AR leading feature development for the main application. Hardware team designs and builds peripherals to support the AR system. Business includes Social, Outreach, Finance, and Content teams with additional support to Research for grants and technical studies. UX collaborates with all teams to create intuitive designs and evaluate XR applications with a focus on human factors.
CLAWS is an interdisciplinary project team at the University of Michigan. Our 5 core teams—Development, Hardware, UX, Research, and Business—work together to design augmented reality interfaces for astronauts. Development is split into AR, AI, and Web teams, with AR leading feature development for the main application. Hardware team designs and builds peripherals to support the AR system. Business includes Social, Outreach, Finance, and Content teams with additional support to Research for grants and technical studies. UX collaborates with all teams to create intuitive designs and evaluate XR applications with a focus on human factors.
CLAWS is an interdisciplinary project team at the University of Michigan. Our 5 core teams—Development, Hardware, UX, Research, and Business—work together to design augmented reality interfaces for astronauts. Development is split into AR, AI, and Web teams, with AR leading feature development for the main application. Hardware team designs and builds peripherals to support the AR system. Business includes Social, Outreach, Finance, and Content teams with additional support to Research for grants and technical studies. UX collaborates with all teams to create intuitive designs and evaluate XR applications with a focus on human factors.
Join the Team
Applications are now open for Fall 2025!
Submit by September 12th 11:59pm
Join the Team
Applications are now open for Fall 2025!
Submit by September 12th 11:59pm
Festifall North
Mon. Aug. 25th, 5 - 8pm • Gerstacker Grove
Festifall North
Mon. Aug. 25th, 5 - 8pm • Gerstacker Grove
Festifall North
Mon. Aug. 25th, 5 - 8pm • Gerstacker Grove
Mass Meeting + Sub Team Fair
Wed. Sept. 3rd, 7 - 8pm • BSB 1060
Mass Meeting + Sub Team Fair
Wed. Sept. 3rd, 7 - 8pm • BSB 1060
Mass Meeting + Sub Team Fair
Wed. Sept. 3rd, 7 - 8pm • BSB 1060
CLAWScapade Design Challenge
Sun. Sept. 7th, 2 - 3:30pm • BSB 1060
CLAWScapade Design Challenge
Sun. Sept. 7th, 2 - 3:30pm • BSB 1060
CLAWScapade Design Challenge
Sun. Sept. 7th, 2 - 3:30pm • BSB 1060
Open Social
Wed. Sept. 10th, 7:15 - 8:30pm • SKB 3600
Open Social
Wed. Sept. 10th, 7:15 - 8:30pm • SKB 3600
Open Social
Wed. Sept. 10th, 7:15 - 8:30pm • SKB 3600
Application Office Hours
Fri. Sept. 12th, 5 - 8pm • Zoom
Application Office Hours
Fri. Sept. 12th, 5 - 8pm • Zoom
Application Office Hours
Fri. Sept. 12th, 5 - 8pm • Zoom
2025 Photo Gallery
2025 Photo Gallery
Engaging with the larger MCommunity at the XR Summit
The Web Team working on new features in the fall
A snapshot of our Unity onboarding
The hardware team hard at work soldering a PCB
High school students in a cybersecurity class brainstormed UX problems they could solve at their school
Students at an outreach event
trying our previous AR applications
Presentations each week on the progress of the project
helped members understand the scope better
Members of the AI team learning more
about AI during onboarding
Work-time with Northeastern University at Johnson Space Center, testing our Pressurized Rover and AR HUD on a mission
Our UX Team debriefing our evaluator on user controls
Monitoring our Mission Control server to ensure
accurate data transfers during testing
Our design evaluator conducting
the test mission at the rockyard
A closer look of the testing process at JSC
for the SUITS challenge
The hardware team built a physical button
integrated with eye gaze for user input
A mirrored view of the HoloLens 2
showing a user adding a waypoint to a map
During the final test week, NASA provides tours
and detailed presentations of their facilities
Work-time with Northeastern University at Johnson Space Center, testing our Pressurized Rover and AR HUD on a mission
Our UX Team debriefing our evaluator on user controls
Monitoring our Mission Control server to ensure
accurate data transfers during testing
Our design evaluator conducting
the test mission at the rockyard
A closer look of the testing process at JSC
for the SUITS challenge
The hardware team built a physical button
integrated with eye gaze for user input
A mirrored view of the HoloLens 2
showing a user adding a waypoint to a map
During the final test week, NASA provides tours
and detailed presentations of their facilities
Work-time with Northeastern University at Johnson Space Center, testing our Pressurized Rover and AR HUD
Our UX Team debriefing our evaluator on user controls
Our design evaluator conducting
the test mission at the rockyard
Monitoring our Mission Control server to ensure accurate data transfers during testing
A closer look at the testing process at JSC
for the SUITS challenge
The hardware team built a physical button integrated with eye gaze for user input
A mirrored view of the HoloLens 2
showing a user adding a waypoint to a map
During test week, NASA provides tours and detailed presentations of their facilities
Engaging with the larger MCommunity at the XR Summit
The Web Team working on new features in the fall
A snapshot of our Unity onboarding
The hardware team hard at work soldering a PCB
Members of the AI team learning more
about AI during onboarding
Presentations each week on the progress of the project
helped members understand the scope better
High school students in a cybersecurity class brainstormed UX problems they could solve at their school
Students at an outreach event
trying our previous AR applications
Engaging with the larger MCommunity at the XR Summit
The Web Team working on new features in the fall
A snapshot of our Unity onboarding
The hardware team hard at work soldering a PCB
Members of the AI team learning more
about AI during onboarding
Presentations each week on the progress of the project
helped members understand the scope better
High school students in a cybersecurity class brainstormed UX problems they could solve at their school
Students at an outreach event
trying our previous AR applications
Thank you Noah Feller, Jamie Zhou, Robert Markowitz, and James Blair for many of these photos
CLAWS Alumni Network
CLAWS Alumni Network
Build Augmented Reality
Interfaces for Astronauts
Collaborative Lab for Advancing Work in Space
2026 NASA SUITS Challenge
2025 Photo Gallery