2 min read<\/p>\n
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-7389.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA MSFC HERC is the annual engineering competition \u2013 one of NASA\u2019s longest standing challenges \u2013 held its concluding event April 19 and April 20, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, near NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA has selected 75 student teams<\/a> to begin an engineering design challenge to build rovers that will compete next spring at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center near the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The competition is one of the agency\u2019s Artemis Student Challenges, encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).<\/p>\nRecognized as NASA\u2019s leading international student challenge, the 31st annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) aims to put competitors in the mindset of NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign as they pitch an engineering design for a lunar terrain vehicle which simulates astronauts piloting a vehicle, exploring the lunar surface while overcoming various obstacles.<\/p>\n
Participating teams\u00a0represent 35 colleges and\u00a0universities, 38 high schools, and two middle schools from 20 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 other nations from around the world. The 31st annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) is scheduled to begin on April 11, 2025. The challenge is managed by NASA\u2019s Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement<\/a> at NASA Marshall.<\/p>\nFollowing a 2024 competition that garnered international attention, NASA expanded the challenge to include a remote-control division, Remote-Operated Vehicular Research, and invited middle school students to participate. The 2025 HERC Handbook<\/a> includes guidelines for the new remote-control division and updates for the human-powered division.<\/p>\nNASA\u2019s Artemis Student Challenges reflects the goals of the Artemis<\/a> campaign, which seeks to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration.<\/p>\nMore than 1,000 students with 72 teams from around the world participated in the 2024 challenge<\/a> as HERC celebrated its 30th anniversary as a NASA competition. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated in HERC \u2013 with many former students<\/a> now working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nTo learn more about HERC, please visit:\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ceb-7389.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA has selected 75 student teams<\/a> to begin an engineering design challenge to build rovers that will compete next spring at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center near the agency\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The competition is one of the agency\u2019s Artemis Student Challenges, encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).<\/p>\n Recognized as NASA\u2019s leading international student challenge, the 31st annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) aims to put competitors in the mindset of NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign as they pitch an engineering design for a lunar terrain vehicle which simulates astronauts piloting a vehicle, exploring the lunar surface while overcoming various obstacles.<\/p>\n Participating teams\u00a0represent 35 colleges and\u00a0universities, 38 high schools, and two middle schools from 20 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 other nations from around the world. The 31st annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) is scheduled to begin on April 11, 2025. The challenge is managed by NASA\u2019s Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement<\/a> at NASA Marshall.<\/p>\n Following a 2024 competition that garnered international attention, NASA expanded the challenge to include a remote-control division, Remote-Operated Vehicular Research, and invited middle school students to participate. The 2025 HERC Handbook<\/a> includes guidelines for the new remote-control division and updates for the human-powered division.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Artemis Student Challenges reflects the goals of the Artemis<\/a> campaign, which seeks to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration.<\/p>\n More than 1,000 students with 72 teams from around the world participated in the 2024 challenge<\/a> as HERC celebrated its 30th anniversary as a NASA competition. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated in HERC \u2013 with many former students<\/a> now working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To learn more about HERC, please visit:\u00a0<\/p>\n