NASA has chosen 75 pupil groups to start an engineering design problem to construct rovers that may compete subsequent spring on the U.S. Area and Rocket Heart close to the company’s Marshall Area Flight Heart in Huntsville, Alabama. The competitors is without doubt one of the company’s Artemis Scholar Challenges, encouraging college students to pursue levels and careers in science, know-how, engineering, and arithmetic (STEM).

Acknowledged as NASA’s main worldwide pupil problem, the thirty first annual Human Exploration Rover Problem (HERC) goals to place opponents within the mindset of NASA’s Artemis marketing campaign as they pitch an engineering design for a lunar terrain car which simulates astronauts piloting a car, exploring the lunar floor whereas overcoming varied obstacles.

Taking part groups characterize 35 schools and universities, 38 excessive colleges, and two center colleges from 20 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 different nations from world wide. The thirty first annual Human Exploration Rover Problem (HERC) is scheduled to start on April 11, 2025. The problem is managed by NASA’s Southeast Regional Workplace of STEM Engagement at NASA Marshall.

Following a 2024 competitors that garnered worldwide consideration, NASA expanded the problem to incorporate a remote-control division, Distant-Operated Vehicular Analysis, and invited center college college students to take part. The 2025 HERC Handbook consists of tips for the brand new remote-control division and updates for the human-powered division.

NASA’s Artemis Scholar Challenges displays the objectives of the Artemis marketing campaign, which seeks to land the primary girl and first individual of coloration on the Moon whereas establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration.

Greater than 1,000 college students with 72 groups from world wide participated within the 2024 problem as HERC celebrated its thirtieth anniversary as a NASA competitors. Since its inception in 1994, greater than 15,000 college students have participated in HERC – with many former college students now working at NASA, or throughout the aerospace business.    

To study extra about HERC, please go to: 

Taylor Goodwin
Marshall Area Flight Heart, Huntsville, Ala.
256.544.0034
taylor.goodwin@nasa.gov