Human Exploration Rover Challenge
The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) will encourage research and development of new technologies for future mission planning and crewed space missions to other worlds.
Requirements released
August 10, 2023
proposals due
September 21, 2023
eligibility
US and International High Schools, Colleges, and Universities
location and date
U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL – April 19-20, 2024
How To Apply
Competition requirements, timeline, and general information
The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge Handbook contains information that teams will need to know to participate in the challenge. The handbook includes the following: General Information, Timeline, Competition Guidelines and Regulations, Requirements, Deliverables, Points Breakdown and Allocation, and Course Descriptions and Design. The Handbook may receive periodic updates; please be sure to check back to make sure you are working from the most recent copy. Please direct questions and inquiries regarding registration, event operations, or logistics to HERC@mail.nasa.gov.
View Handbook
Course Map
HERC’s course at Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Wondering about the course layout for this competition? Need to plan your team’s strategy? Look over the location of obstacles and tasks create the optimum route.
View Course Map
Timeline
HERC’s Timeline covers pertinent dates for deliverables and events
If you are thinking about participating in HERC, or already on the team roster, adherence to dates and deadlines are vital to having a successful challenge year! Find out more about when proposals are due, what deliverables are due along the way, and the schedule for culminating event in Huntsville, Alabama.
View Timeline
2023 Teams
See the list of teams for the 2023 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC)
The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) was held April 21-22 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Aviation Challenge in Huntsville, Alabama. 2023 HERC is the return of an in-person challenge after three years of virtual competition! Teams will be participating from across the globe, with 37 colleges and 11 high schools representing 9 countries.
View Teams
Logistics
Logistics covers how to prepare for your trip to and your time spent in Huntsville, Alabama during the HERC event
HERC will be held in Huntsville, Alabama at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. There are many considerations to make when planning your trip to Huntsville. Read more to find out about local lodging options, local eateries, and if needed, where to ship your rover.
Read More
Join Artemis!
Authentic, hands-on learning experiences give students in middle school all the way through graduate school a chance to flex their design and engineering skills as they build and launch high-powered rockets, design robots capable of mining the Moon’s surface or traversing difficult lunar terrain, create human-powered rovers, and test technologies and tools to assist future astronauts working on the Moon.
Learn More about Join Artemis!
Contact Us
Please direct questions and inquiries regarding registration, competition operations or logistics to the challenge organizers listed below.
HERC Implementation Team
Office of STEM Engagement
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL
HERC@mail.nasa.gov
Members of the news media interested in attending or interviewing participants before or during the event should contact the organizers listed below.
Chris Blair / Janet Sudnik
Public and Employee Communications Office
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL
256-544-0034
christopher.e.blair@nasa.gov / janet.m.sudnik@nasa.gov
