Indian students secure 2 prestigious awards at NASA's 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Students from Universidad Católica Boliviana prepare to traverse the course at the 2024 Human Exploration Rover Challenge at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. (Image credit: NASA)

India shines brightly at NASA's 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC), claiming two distinguished awards, highlighting the country's increasing importance in the quest for lunar exploration.

Teams representing KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR (College/University), and Kanakia International School, Mumbai (High School), clinched top honors in two categories.

KIET Group of Institutions team earned recognition for its outstanding performance in the 'Crash and Burn' category, while Kanakia International School emerged victorious as the 'Rookie of the Year'.

Winning teams: Parish Episcopal School from Dallas won first place in the high school division, while the University of Alabama in Huntsville secured the college/university title.

The concluding event of the 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) took place on April 19 and April 20 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Purpose of the Human Exploration Rover Challenge

The Human Exploration Rover Challenge aims to engage students in the engineering design process related to crewed space missions. High school, college, and university students from around the world are tasked with designing, building, and testing lightweight, human-powered rovers capable of traversing simulated lunar and Martian terrain. The challenge aligns with NASA's Artemis Program objectives, focusing on returning humans to the Moon, including the first woman and first person of color, and establish a sustainable human presence, and preparing for deeper space exploration, including missions to Mars.

Competition structure: Teams earn points by successfully completing design reviews, assembling rovers meeting challenge criteria, and navigating course obstacles and mission tasks. Winners are determined based on points accumulated throughout the project year in each category (high school and college/university).

Preparation for future exploration: Participation in HERC provides students with valuable experience in engineering design processes similar to those used by NASA, preparing them for potential roles in planning future space missions, including crewed missions to other worlds.

Legacy: The annual HERC, managed by NASA's Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall, has encouraged innovation and inspired students worldwide for over 25 years. It is one of eight Artemis Student Challenges aimed at promoting STEM education and careers.

Selection process and criteria

Participation: Over 600 students from 72 teams participated in the 30th annual event. Teams hailed from 42 colleges and universities, 30 high schools, and represented 24 states in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 13 other nations.

Final list of teams: Among the 72 teams selected, notable mentions from India include Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Goa Campus; Sancoale, – College/University; Candor International School; Bengaluru - High School; Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai - College/University; Punjab Engineering College; Chandigarh - College/University; and Young Mind Research and Development Org, New Delhi, along with the final Indian winners - KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR - College/University, and Kanakia International School, Mumbai – High School.

Selection process: Teams submitted proposals to participate in the 2024 HERC on August 10, 2023. Selections were announced on October 12, 2023, based on proposals submitted in September 2023. The final list of team members was announced on February 1, 2024, based on Design Review Report and Presentations presented in November 2023.

Competition format: Teams earned points based on navigating a half-mile obstacle course, completing mission-specific task challenges, and undergoing safety and design reviews with NASA engineers.

Winner selection criteria: Winners were chosen based on Operational Readiness Review (ORR) Report and Presentation in March 2024.