The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge was held April 17-18 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Participants included 95 registered student teams from high schools, colleges and universities across 18 states and Puerto Rico, as well as international teams from Germany, India, Mexico and Russia.
Awards were presented to teams posting the fastest vehicle assembly and race times in their divisions, with the fewest on-course penalties. In addition, other awards were presented for accomplishments regarding technology design, systems safety and more. The complete list of award winners is provided below.
High School Division – Obstacle Course
- First Place: University Gardens High School of San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Second Place: Rafaelina Lebron Flores of Patillas, Puerto Rico
- Third Place: The Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology of Reno, Nevada
University Division – Obstacle Course
- First Place: International Space Education Institute – Team Russia of Moscow
- Second Place: International Space Education Institute – Team Germany of Leipzig
- Third Place: Middle Tennessee State University – Team 1 of Murfreesboro
Neil Armstrong Best Design Award (for the best technical approach to solve the engineering problem of navigating the extraterrestrial terrain of the course. This award honors the memory of Apollo 11 astronaut Armstrong, the first man on the moon):
- High School Division: Parish Episcopal School of Dallas, Texas
- University Division: Auburn University of Auburn, Alabama
Technology Challenge Award (for the team which best addresses this year’s unique “wheel technology challenge,” designing an innovative mobility system to aid navigation over the course):
- The Rhode Island School of Design of Providence
Featherweight Award (for the lightest rover on the track):
- High School Division: Vocational High School Teodoro Aguilar Mora – Team 1 of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
- University Division: The University of Puerto Rico at Humacao
The Telemetry/Electronics Award (for the most innovative onboard data-gathering and delivery system):
- Pittsburg State University – Team 2 of Pittsburg, Kansas
Frank Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award (for ingenuity and persistence in overcoming problems during the race. Sexton, a NASA welder who mentored numerous welders and engineers among the Marshall workforce, worked on the original lunar rover and numerous other space vehicles until his death in 2000):
- High School Division: Centro de Ciencia y Tecnologia Semilla of Chihuahua, Mexico
- College Division: Christian Brothers University from Memphis, Tennessee
Crash and Burn Award (for enduring and recovering from the worst vehicle breakdown):
- Purdue University Calumet – Team 2 of Hammond, Indiana
Spirit Award (for overall team energy, enthusiasm and camaraderie):
- SVKM’s NMIMS Mukesh Patel School of Technology, Management & Engineering of Mumbai, India
Rookie Award:
- High School Division: Rafaelina Lebron Flores
- University Division: Louisiana State University of Baton Rouge
Jesco von Puttkamer International Team Award (for the fastest team hailing from outside the United States. The late, German-born von Puttkamer worked at Marshall from 1962-1974, supporting the Apollo moon missions and the Skylab and Space Shuttle programs. He was instrumental in introducing international teams to NASA student racing in the early 2000s):
- High School Division: The International Space Education Institute – Team Russia of Moscow
- University Division: The International Space Education Institute – Team Russia of Moscow
Best Report Award (technical documentation of the equipment and procedures used in design, build, test and the results obtained):
- High School Division: Escambia High School of Pensacola, Florida
- University Division: The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Most Improved:
- High School Division: Parish Episcopal School
- University Division: Bevill State Community College – Team 1 of Sumiton, Alabama
System Safety Award (for the team exemplifying best safety practices):
- High School Division: The Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology
- University Division: SVKM’s NMIMS Mukesh Patel School of Technology, Engineering and Management
Full replays of the race are available on the Marshall Center’s Ustream site:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc
For more information about Rover Challenge, visit: