HUNTSVILLE — NASA has recognized a new generation of potential space explorers who competed in the agency’s 28th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge. The annual event challenges high school and college students to create a human-powered vehicle designed to traverse the simulated surface of another world and complete a mission.
The 2022 challenge, usually hosted at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, was conducted virtually and the Marshall Space Flight Center announced the winners during a virtual awards ceremony April 29. The competition included 58 college teams and 33 high school teams.
The students from around the world spent the last eight months designing, building, and testing their rovers for the challenge. The rovers were human-powered on a course simulating extra-terrestrial terrain. Teams also performed tasks while negotiating the course, including collecting samples and spectrographic analysis.
“This year, students were asked to design a course that would mimic obstacles as if they were competing in Huntsville,” said Aundra Brooks-Davenport, activity lead for the challenge at Marshall. “Ensuring team safety was a major factor in developing the design of their own obstacles.
“We are excited about the virtual competition and the opportunity it provided our teams.”
The Human Exploration Rover Challenge is one of the original seven NASA Artemis Student Challenges. The Lunabotics Challenge, where college teams will use the NASA Systems Engineering Process to design, build, and operate a lunar robot will be announced this month.
The top finishers in the high school division were:
- First place: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas
- Second place: Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology, Reno, Nevada
- Third place: Tu Ciencia Joven, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
In the college/university division, the top finishers were:
- First place: Tecnologico de Monterrey, Xochitepec, Mexico
- Second place: Trine University, Angola, Indiana
- Third place: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina
The challenge is managed by the Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall.
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