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NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

OpenEngineeringPhysicsCompetition

About the Program

The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) is a nine-month engineering design challenge run by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall Space Flight Center. Teams of middle school, high school, and college students design, build, and test a rover capable of traversing a simulated lunar terrain course — working through the same engineering design lifecycle NASA uses for real missions.

Two rover divisions:

| Division | Description | | ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Human-Powered (HP) | A two-person crew-operated rover; students must ride and maneuver it through the course | | Remote-Controlled (RC) | A remotely operated rover navigated through the obstacle course |

The nine-month lifecycle:

Teams accepted into the program work through a structured set of milestones:

  1. Proposal (due September): Teams submit a design concept, budget, safety plan, and funding sources for NASA review. Selection is competitive.
  2. Design Review (DR) (November–December): Teams submit written reports and present virtually to NASA engineers.
  3. Operational Readiness Review (ORR) (February–March): Teams submit updated reports, rover photos, and present virtually to confirm readiness for the event.
  4. Culminating Event (April, Huntsville AL): Teams bring their rovers to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and compete on a simulated lunar terrain course alongside teams from around the world.

2026–2027 key dates:

| Milestone | Date | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | Proposal deadline | September 17, 2026 | | Teams selected | October 8, 2026 | | Design Review presentations | November 30 – December 18, 2026 | | ORR presentations | March 1–19, 2027 | | Culminating event | April 21–24, 2027 |

Costs:

There is no registration or entry fee. Teams are responsible for rover construction costs (materials, fabrication, equipment) and travel and lodging for the Huntsville event. Teams are expected to develop a funding plan — common sources include school budgets, community sponsors, local grants, and corporate partnerships.

Alignment:

HERC aligns with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Career and Technical Education (CTE) frameworks in Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics, and Digital Technology, and ABET criteria for engineering programs. NASA provides a detailed handbook, webinars, and virtual design review feedback to support all participating teams.

Eligibility

Open to any U.S. college, university, middle school, or high school; any U.S. informal education institution serving middle/high school-aged students; and any international college, university, middle school, or high school. Teams compete in separate divisions: middle/high school and college/university. Both human-powered (HP) and remote-controlled (RC) rover divisions are available. Teams must submit a proposal to be selected; selection is competitive.

Eligible Countries

All countries

How to Apply

Download the HERC Handbook from nasa.gov and submit a team proposal via the NASA HERC Proposal Submission Link by the September deadline. Selected teams register all members through NASA STEM Gateway, then proceed through a series of virtual design reviews (Design Review, Operational Readiness Review) with NASA engineers before attending the in-person culminating event in Huntsville, Alabama in April. Teams must self-fund rover construction costs and travel to the event.