NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/2012_Moonbuggy_Race_Purdue_University_in_crater_vignetted_cropped.jpg/220px-2012_Moonbuggy_Race_Purdue_University_in_crater_vignetted_cropped.jpg)
The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, prior to 2014 referred to as the Great Moonbuggy Race, is an annual competition for high school and college students to design, build, and race human-powered, collapsible vehicles over simulated lunar/Martian terrain. NASA sponsors the competition, first held in 1994, and, since 1996, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosts.[1][2]
Students created vehicles dubbed "moonbuggies" to face challenges similar to those engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center addressed in preparation for Apollo 15. On that mission, on July 31, 1971, the first Lunar Roving Vehicle extended the range of astronauts on the Moon to allow for further exploration than was otherwise possible. Two other rovers were sent to the Moon on subsequent missions.[1]
With the 2014 changes in the contest, the motivation changed to mimicking design challenges faced by engineers designing rovers for future exploration missions to a variety of celestial bodies.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/1994_Moonbuggy_Race_Puerto_Rico_over_boulders.jpg/220px-1994_Moonbuggy_Race_Puerto_Rico_over_boulders.jpg)
The first race, in 1994, was held on July 16, the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. It featured six college teams who competed on the same course as had been used to test the lunar rovers previously. The University of New Hampshire finished first, in 18 minutes 55 seconds for the 1.4-mile (2.3 km) course with twelve obstacles. The prize was a trip for six team members to see a Space Shuttle launch. Other teams from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao, Texas A & M University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Georgia Institute of Technology and Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis participated.[3]
Subsequent races have been held in April. In 1996, the competition was moved to a .75-mile (1.21 km) course at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center; high school teams also began competing.
Rules
The rules change year by year, but are largely summarized thus:[4][5]
- A team of at most six people designs, builds, and races the same vehicle.[5]
- Two of the six must ride and propel the vehicle through the course.[6]
- Riders must be one male and one female.[6]
- The moonbuggy (pre-2014) must fit into a 4-foot (1.2 m) cube and be no more than 4 ft wide.[7] Beginning in 2014, the rover constraint was a 5-foot (1.5 m) cube.
- The vehicle needs to carry a simulated high-gain antenna, camera, and other instrumentation which must consume at least 1 cubic foot (28 L).[5][7]
- Various other dimensional and safety criteria apply.
- Time penalties are assessed for touching the ground, avoiding obstacles, and other rule violations.[5][6]
- Since 2016, the teams have to design and fabricate their own non-pneumatic tires/wheels. Purchasing a commercially available product will lead to disqualification.
Course
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/2012_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_Course_Map.png/220px-2012_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_Course_Map.png)
The course is designed to test rovers for stability over varying simulated lunar or extraterrestrial terrain—bumpy, sloped, and rocky—including some tight turns.[7] The first course was the actual track used by Mobility Test Articles, auditioning versions of Lunar Roving Vehicles that were used on the Moon. For the third race the course was moved a few miles, to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. There, the track has taken varying paths through the rocket park and around the permanent lunar crater feature at the museum. Each year, the obstacles change slightly.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/2013_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_obstacle_preparation.jpg/220px-2013_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_obstacle_preparation.jpg)
The obstacles are constructed of discarded tires, plywood, some 20 tons of gravel and five tons of sand, all to simulate lunar craters, basins, and rilles.[7] The contest is challenging: in 2009, 29 of 68 teams competing did not complete the race.[8] Sometimes the placement of the obstacle is an issue, with some teams hitting obstacles too fast after a downhill stint.[9]
Before students tackle the race course, their vehicles must pass inspection. At the team's start time, the two riding students must carry the buggy, collapsed to fit in a 5-foot (1.5 m) cube (pre-2014 a 4-foot (1.2 m) cube), for 20 feet (6.1 m), then expand the rover and ride it across the obstacles and along the track, avoiding cones marking the edges of the course, bales of hay, and other obstructions, while successfully navigating the modest hills of the terrain and obstacles. After the race, another inspection assesses the condition of the vehicle, with time penalties if parts are missing.[4]
Contestants
Contestants are high school and university students largely from the United States, including Puerto Rico. Teams have also come from Canada, Mexico, India, Germany, and Romania to participate.[7][10]
Awards
Numerous awards are offered each year, some with significant prizes. First place college winners have received trips to Shuttle launches and cash prizes, while others have received weekends at Space Camp. In 2009, there were 11 categories for special recognition with 19 recipients thereof. Consistent from the beginning have been awards for fastest time and for best design. Other awards acknowledge simplicity of design, safety, tenacity, team spirit, improvement over previous years' entries, and exceptional new entries.[11]
Winners
This list gives winners for time(t) and design(d) awards which have been consistently offered since the start. Awards were often also given for other categories but they are not included here in the interest of readability.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Graff_Career_Center_Navigates_Crater_in_the_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_1999.jpg/220px-Graff_Career_Center_Navigates_Crater_in_the_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_1999.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Cornell_No._2_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_2002.jpg/220px-Cornell_No._2_Great_Moonbuggy_Race_2002.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/NDSU_Moonbuggy_Race_2003.jpg/220px-NDSU_Moonbuggy_Race_2003.jpg)
Year | High School | College | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | none | University of New Hampshiret University of Puerto Rico at Humacaod | Original test track, 1.4 miles, rain[3] |
1995 | none | Georgia Institute of Technologyt University of Alabama in Huntsvilled | Original test track[12] |
1996 | Bob Jones High Schooltd | University of Alabama in Huntsvillet Arizona State Universityd | First at USSRC, 3⁄4-mile (1.2 km) track[13] |
1997 | Monterey High School (Louisiana)td | University of California at Santa Barbaratd | 1⁄2-mile (0.80 km) track[14][15] |
1998 | Monterey High Schoolt Autauga County Vocational Centerd | College of New Jerseyt Arizona State Universityd | Rain[16][17] |
1999 | Graff Career Centertd | Pittsburg State University team 4t College of New Jerseyd | [18] |
2000 | Pittsburg High School, Kansast Orleans Parish Area Schoolsd | College of New Jerseyt South Dakota State Universityd | First two-day contest[19][20] |
2001 | Graff Career Centert Lafayette County High School (Missouri) team 1d | Pittsburg State University team 2t University of New Hampshired | [21] |
2002 | Lafayette County High School in Higginsville, Mo.t New Orleans Area Schools team 2d | Cornell Universityt College of New Jerseyd | [22] |
2003 | Lafayette County (Mo.) C-1 High School Team No. 2t | North Dakota State Universityt | [23] |
2004 | New Orleans Area High Schools | North Dakota State Universityt | [24] |
2005 | Madison County Career Academy team 1t | Utah State Universityt | [25][26] |
2006 | Huntsville Center for Technologyt | Pittsburg State Universityt | [27] |
2007 | Huntsville Center for Technologyt | Rochester Institute of Technologyt | [28] |
2008 | Erie High School (Kansas) Team 2t Erie High School Team 1d | University of Evansvillet Pittsburg State Universityd | [29][30][31] |
2009 | tie Erie High School (Kansas)t tie Huntsville Center for Technology Team 2t Tudor Vianu National High School of Computer Scienced | Rochester Institute of Technologyt Tennessee Technological Universityd | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) course[8][10][11][32][33] |
2010 | International Space Education Institute of Leipzigt Teodoro Aguilar Mora Vocational High School Team 2d | The University of Puerto Rico at Humacaot University of Alabama in Huntsvilled | [9][34] |
2011 | Teodoro Aguilar Mora Vocational High School Team 2t | University of Puerto Rico in Humacaot | UPRH is the only contestant to enter in every race thus far.[35] |
2012 | Petra Mercado High Schoolt Colegio Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro-Humacaod | University of Alabama in Huntsvillet International Space Education Institute Team Russia in Moscowd | [36] |
2013 | Teodoro Aguilar Mora Vocational High Schoolt Academy of Arts, Careers and Technologyd | University of Puerto Rico at Humacaot Southern Illinois Universityd | There was some concern that the race might be called off due to sequestration, but NASA Associate Administrator for Education, Leland D. Melvin specifically exempted the event.[37][38][39] |
2014 | Academy of Arts, Careers and Technologytd | University of Puerto Rico at Humacao Team 2t Middle Tennessee State University – Team 2d | First "Human Exploration Rover Challenge," harder course, non-pneumatic wheels[40][41] |
2015 | University Gardens High School of San Juan, Puerto Ricot Parish Episcopal School of Dallas, Texasd | International Space Education Institute Team Russia of Moscowt Auburn University of Auburn, Alabamad | [42] |
2016 | Purdue University Calumet – Team 1t Purdue University Calumet – Team 2d | Rafaelina E. Lebron Flores of Patillas, Puerto Ricot Colegio Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro of Humacaod | This was the first year for teams to design their own wheels. The 2016 contest also added four sample collections of liquid, pebbles, large rocks, and soil.[43] |
2018 | Buckhorn High Schoolf | University of Alabama in Huntsville - Team 1 | This was the first year the competition included a points system. Points were awarded for the weight of the buggies as well as obstacles and missions completed around the course. Teams were given 6 minutes to complete tasks, and the 7th minute to reach the finish line.[44] |
2021 | Parish Episcopal School Team 1 | Universidad Nacional de Colombia | On-Site activities cancelled due to COVID-19.[45] Overall winners decided by design, documentation, and presentation categories.[46] |
tFirst place for time
dBest design award
fFeatherweight award
References
- ^ a b c "Official NASA Great Moonbuggy Race Fact Sheet" (PDF). NASA. p. 4. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
- ^ a b "About NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge". Archived from the original on April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
- ^ a b "Moon Buggy Race was Wheeling Task for Students". Marshall Star. July 20, 1994.
- ^ a b "Moonbuggy Rules and Penalties". NASA. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Rover Challenge Rules". NASA. Archived from the original on 2014-04-11. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c "NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race". Time.com. Time. 2010. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ a b c d e Greenemeier, Larry (April 3, 2009). "Slide Show: Students Gear Up for NASA's Annual Moon Buggy Race". Scientific American. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ a b Skillings, Jonathan (April 6, 2009). "Photos: NASA's moonbuggy stakes". CNet. p. 19. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ a b Marshall, Mike (April 11, 2010). "Moonbuggy challenge grows". al.com. Huntsville Times. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ a b Cumbow, Victoria (April 3, 2009). "Moon buggy races today". al.com. Huntsville Times. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ a b Storey, Angela (April 4, 2009). "NASA Names 16th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race Winners". NASA. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "Modern Moon Buggies Race Over Historic Terrain". Marshall Star. April 26, 1995.
- ^ "Local Schools Win Great Moon Buggy Race". Marshall Star. April 24, 1996.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 17, 1997). "Great Moon Buggy Race". NASA. Archived from the original on January 9, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 21, 1997). "Great Moon Buggy Race Winners". NASA. Archived from the original on January 9, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 18, 1998). "Monterey High School Celebrates Victory Following 5th Annual Great Moon Buggy Race". NASA. Archived from the original on November 21, 2000. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 20, 1998). "New Jersey and Louisiana Schools Celebrate Victory Following 5th Annual Great Moon Buggy Race". NASA. Archived from the original on September 2, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 17, 1999). "Kansas College and Missouri High School Are Winners In 6th Annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race'". NASA. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 7, 2000). "Team From Pittsburg, Kan., Powers to Top of High School Division at NASA's 7th Annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race'". Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- ^ Berg, Jerry (April 8, 2000). "New Jersey School Powers to Top of College Division at NASA's 7th Annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race'". NASA. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- ^ "Kansas team triumphs in college division of NASA's 8th Annual "Great Moonbuggy Race"". NASA. April 7, 2001. Archived from the original on 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "New York team triumphs in college division of NASA's 9th annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race'". NASA. April 13, 2002. Archived from the original on 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "North Dakota triumphs in college division of NASA's 10th annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race'". April 12, 2003. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Jensen, Martin (April 3, 2004). "North Dakota State Triumphs in College Division of NASA's 11th Annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race' Saturday". NASA. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Jensen, Martin (April 8, 2005). "Hometown Team Wins High School Division in NASA's 12th Annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race' Friday". NASA. Archived from the original on 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Jensen, Martin (April 9, 2005). "Utah State University Triumphs in College Division Of NASA's 12th Annual 'Great Moonbuggy Race' Saturday". NASA. Archived from the original on 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "Photos: 'Moonbuggies' bounce to the finish line". CNet. April 10, 2006. p. 8. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- ^ Storey, Angela (April 13, 2007). "Huntsville Center for Technology Conquers Space-Age Terrain to Win the High School Division of NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race". NASA. Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "Students' moonbuggy takes prize". Topeka Capital-Journal. Pittsburg, Kansas. AP. April 12, 2006. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
- ^ Storey, Angela (April 5, 2008). "University of Evansville, Ind., Students Rocket to First Place in College Division of NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race". NASA. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Storey, Angela (April 4, 2008). "Erie High Team From Erie, Kan., Overcomes Moonscape, All Competitors To Win High School Division Of NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race". NASA. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "Fastest times for the Great Moonbuggy race". Huntsville Times. al.com. April 5, 2009. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Gray, Kathy Lynn (April 5, 2009). "Moonbuggy race: Broken part eliminates OSU". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Storey, Angela (April 10, 2010). "NASA Announces Winners of 17th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race". NASA. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "NASA Announces Winners of 18th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race: Puerto Rico teams take top awards in high school, college divisions". NASA. April 2, 2011. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ "Winners of 19th Annual NASA Great Moonbuggy Race Announced". NASA. April 14, 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Melvin, Leland (March 26, 2013). "Letter from NASA AA for Education Leland Melvin to Education Coordinating Council on Waivers for Education and Public Outreach Activities". Spaceref.com. Spaceref. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
- ^ Roop, Lee (March 26, 2013). "NASA Great Moonbuggy Race dodges sequestration cut and will go on in April". Huntsville Times. al.com. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
- ^ "Puerto Rico Teams Take Top Spots at 20th NASA Great Moonbuggy Race". NASA. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
- ^ Roop, Lee (April 11, 2014). "NASA's new rover challenge is tough, just like the rest of the agency's life today". Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ^ "2014 NASA Human Rover Exploration Challenge Results". Space Fellowship. April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
- ^ "Complete Award Winners for the 2015 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge". NASA. April 21, 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- ^ "NASA Announces Winners of 2016 Human Exploration Rover Challenge". 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
- ^ "NASA Announces Winners of Weather-shortened Rover Challenge". 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
- ^ Bryan, William (2020-03-16). "Rover Challenge Cancels In-Person Competition; Awards Presented in May". NASA. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ "NASA Announces Winners of 2021 Human Exploration Rover Challenge". 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- NASA Great Moonbuggy Race official site
- Public Affairs site
- Flickr images