[meteorite-list] NASA to Host Human Exploration Rover Challenge

[Ron Baalke]

April 01, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY M16-034

NASA to Host Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Media are invited to watch as almost 80 teams from the United States, 
Italy, Germany, India, Mexico, Columbia and Russia, as well as Puerto Rico, 
compete in NASA's annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge, April 8-9 at 
the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The rover challenge requires student teams to design, construct, test and 
race human-powered rovers through an obstacle course that simulates the 
terrain potentially found on distant planets, asteroids or moons. Teams race 
to finish the three-quarter-mile-long obstacle course in the fastest time, 
vying for prizes in various divisions.

The event concludes with a ceremony at 6 p.m. CDT, April 9 in the Davidson 
Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, where event sponsors will present 
awards for best design, rookie team, pit crew award and other 
accomplishments.

Media interested in attending the event should contact Angela Storey of the 
Marshall Public and Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later 
than 4 p.m. April 7.

The two-day event and awards ceremony will stream live online at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc

This year's event incorporates two new and important changes. Teams now are 
required to design and fabricate their own wheels. Any component contacting 
the course surface for traction and mobility, including, but not limited to 
wheels, tracks, treads or belts cannot be purchased or considered an 
off-the-shelf product. As in years past, teams are not allowed to incorporate 
inflated, or un-inflated, pneumatic tires.

The second new feature is an optional Sample Return challenge. Teams 
competing in this separate competition will collect four samples -- liquid, 
small pebbles, large rocks and soil samples -- using a mechanical arm or 
grabber they design and build.

Hosted by Marshall, the Human Exploration Rover Challenge highlights NASA's 
goals for future exploration to Mars and beyond. Inspired by the lunar roving 
vehicles of the Apollo moon missions, the competition challenges students to 
solve engineering problems, while highlighting NASA's commitment to inspiring 
new generations of scientists, engineers and explorers. 

For more event details, race rules, information on the course, contributors 
and photos from previous competitions, as well as links to social media 
accounts providing real-time updates, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/roverchallenge

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