The I.S.S. Design Challenge is a call to college and university students, engineers, and makers, to create a 3D-printable project designed to help I.S.S. astronauts in space. All entries will be judged by Imahara and Hadfield.

DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mouser Electronics Inc., a leading global distributor of electronic components, today released a new video for the International Space Station (I.S.S.) Design Challenge, part of Mouser's award-winning Empowering Innovation Together™ program. In this new video, former commander of the I.S.S., Colonel Chris Hadfield, and celebrity engineer Grant Imahara describe the first-of-its-kind global contest, in which participants create an object that can be 3D-printed aboard the I.S.S. Mouser is accepting entries for this incredible competition now through Oct. 7, 2016.

The I.S.S. Design Challenge is a call to college and university students, engineers, and makers, to create a 3D-printable project designed to help I.S.S. astronauts in space. All entries will be judged by Imahara and Hadfield.

"In the video, we discuss some of the challenges astronauts face and the kind of tools they need. Anyone designing for this competition is going to be able to share in the powerful feeling of being part of a global community of innovation," said Hadfield. "I look forward to reviewing the entries!"

For the I.S.S. Design Challenge, Mouser has partnered with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Made In Space, along with Hackster and MacroFab. The winner of the I.S.S. Challenge will receive a 3D printer, a consultation with Made In Space — pioneers in additive manufacturing technology for use in the space environment — and the prestige of seeing their design 3D-printed aboard the I.S.S. Mouser's valued supplier partner Amphenol is a co-sponsor of the program.

"This contest definitely kicks up the excitement level by challenging our customers to create something to be used in space," said Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics. "Mouser's unparalleled selection of electronic components allows both amateurs and professionals to create anything they can dream up."

To learn more about the I.S.S. Design Challenge, view the video at https://youtu.be/j4FMRuZ_VRM.

About Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 4 million products online from more than 600 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 500,000 customers in 170 countries from its 750,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.mouser.com.

About Grant Imahara

Well known in the engineering community, Grant Imahara has paired his engineering expertise with a Hollywood TV and film career. In addition to his roles on MythBusters and BattleBots, Imahara is the inventor behind many famous robotic characters, including the Star Wars prequel-era R2-D2, talking robot sidekick Geoff Peterson from The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and the rhythmic arms on the modern-day Energizer Bunny.

About Chris Hadfield

"Good morning, Earth!" That is how Colonel Chris Hadfield—writing on Twitter—woke up the world every day while living for five months aboard the International Space Station. Since then, Colonel Hadfield—who served for 21 years as an astronaut, completing three spaceflights and 2,650 orbits of Earth—has become a worldwide sensation for infusing a sense of wonder into our collective consciousness. Over 32 million people have watched his famous cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity, the first music video made in space, and he is the author of two internationally bestselling books, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth and You Are Here. With his feet now firmly planted on Earth, Col. Hadfield works tirelessly to inspire young people to do what they love (especially, if it's space-related) and to be fascinated by the world around them.