NASA\u2019s 32nd annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge, one of the agency\u2019s longest-standing student challenges, culminated April 10-11 with its final excursion event at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center near NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.<\/p>\n
Spanning nine months, the challenge tasks student teams from around the world to design, build, and test a lunar rover powered by either human pilots or remote control. The annual competition concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing the top-performing teams.<\/p>\n
In the human-powered division, Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas earned first place in the high school division, while the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, won the college and university title. In the remote-control division, Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine, earned the top award in the middle and high school division, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama, secured the college and university title.<\/p>\n
More than 500 students representing 42 teams from around the world participated in the 32nd annual competition. Teams included students from 28 colleges and universities, 13 high schools, and one middle school across 18 U.S. states, Puerto Rico,<\/p>\n
Teams were scored on their ability to navigate a half-mile obstacle course, complete mission-specific task challenges, and pass multiple safety and design reviews conducted by NASA engineers, with awards presented across human-powered and remote-control divisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis challenge gives students a hands-on opportunity to think like engineers and problem-solvers, applying real-world design principles to complex exploration scenarios,\u201d said Vemitra Alexander, who leads the Human Exploration Rover Challenge for NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. \u201cBy encouraging innovation and teamwork, we\u2019re helping prepare the next generation to contribute to missions that will take us farther into space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here is the full list of winners:<\/p>\n
First Place: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
\nSecond Place: Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
\nThird Place: \u00a0Debbie Smith Career and Technical Education Academy, Reno, Nevada<\/p>\n
First Place:\u00a0University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri
\nSecond Place: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
\nThird Place: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama<\/p>\n
First Place:\u00a0Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine
\nSecond Place: SoulPhamm, South Plainfield, New Jersey
\nThird Place: Space and Engineering Technologies Academy, San Antonio, Texas<\/p>\n
First Place:\u00a0The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama
\nSecond Place: South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota
\nThird Place: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida<\/p>\n
Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine
\nCollege\/University Division: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
\nCollege\/University Division: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island<\/p>\n
Queen\u2019s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
\nCollege\/University Division: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine
\nCollege\/University Division: University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
\nCollege\/University Division: University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: SoulPhamm, South Plainfield, New Jersey
\nCollege\/University Division: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Erie High School, Erie, Colorado
\nCollege\/University Division: Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Debbie Smith Career and Technical Education Academy, Reno, Nevada
\nCollege\/University Division: Universidad Aeron\u00e1utica en Quer\u00e9taro, Coyote, Mexico<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: Chaminade High School, Mineola, New York
\nCollege\/University Division: ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, India<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Albertville Innovation Academy, Albertville, Alabama
\nCollege\/University Division: Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: Space and Engineering Technologies Academy, San Antonio, Texas
\nCollege\/University Division: ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, India<\/p>\n
Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic<\/p>\n
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (Human Powered), Huntsville, Alabama<\/p>\n
Human-Powered<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
\nCollege\/University Division: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama<\/p>\n
Remote-Control<\/p>\n
Middle School\/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine
\nCollege\/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina<\/p>\n
High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
\nCollege\/University Division: University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri<\/p>\n
High School Division:\u00a0Erie High School, Erie, Colorado
\nCollege\/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina<\/p>\n
Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina<\/p>\n
The rover challenge is one of NASA\u2019s eight\u00a0Artemis Student Challenges<\/a>\u00a0reflecting the goals of the Artemis program, which will land Americans on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration, preparing for future human missions to Mars. NASA uses such challenges to encourage students to pursue degrees and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.\u00a0<\/p>\n The competition is managed by NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement<\/a>\u00a0at NASA Marshall. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated \u2013 with many former students working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n