Seven student teams from India have been chosen to participate in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) in 2024. This prestigious competition is scheduled to take place at the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, between April 19 and 20, 2024, and it boasts the involvement of 72 student teams from various parts of the United States and around the world.
The selected Indian teams represent a diverse array of educational institutions, including the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, Goa Campus; Candor International in Bengaluru; Kanakia International School in Mumbai; KIET Group of Institutions in Delhi-NCR; Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh; Vellore Institute of Technology in Chennai; and Young Mind Research and Development in Faridabad.
Each of these teams is tasked with undertaking an engineering design challenge: creating human-powered rovers that will ultimately compete at a course near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre. These rovers will need to be capable of traversing an obstacle course designed to simulate lunar and Martian terrain while completing mission-oriented scientific tasks.
Participating teams are expected to follow a rigorous process similar to that used by NASA engineers and scientists when conducting design and safety reviews. They will also need to consider the use of lightweight construction materials to mimic the payload restrictions inherent in NASA’s launch operations. Teams will accumulate points throughout the year by successfully completing design reviews and constructing a rover that meets all specified criteria while successfully navigating course obstacles and completing mission tasks. The HERC will culminate in two events scheduled for April 2024.
