Allana E. Graeff
I am a third-year Mechanical Engineering student from Brazil and a refounder of the Lunabotics Club, where I lead the mechanical team. In my free time, I enjoy good coffee and reading books.
Lunabotics: Engineering Beyond Earth
The Saginaw Valley State University Lunabotics Team is a multidisciplinary student organization focused on designing, building, and testing an autonomous lunar excavation rover for NASA’s Lunabotics Challenge at Kennedy Space Center. This international competition challenges university teams to develop innovative robotic systems capable of operating in a simulated lunar environment—navigating rugged terrain, excavating lunar regolith and depositing it in a designated area, much like the technologies needed to support NASA’s Artemis missions and future lunar exploration.
At SVSU, students from a wide range of academic backgrounds collaborate throughout the year on research, engineering design, prototyping, fabrication, programming and system testing. Beyond the technical work, the team engages with industry partners, develops sponsorships and participates in STEM outreach, all while building real-world skills that prepare them for careers in aerospace, robotics and advanced engineering.
Through hands-on experience and teamwork, the Lunabotics program empowers students to innovate, solve complex challenges and contribute to the future of space exploration.