Rover rodeo
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NASA's 32nd annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge took over the U.S. Space and Rocket Center last weekend.
Why it matters: Students building rovers for the challenge may one day be building rovers for the Moon and Mars.
- The challenge engages students in STEM early, creating a pipeline for NASA's future workforce, Vemitra Alexander, activity manager for HERC with NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, told Axios at the event.
Zoom in: Around 240 teams from schools and universities around the world submitted proposals to the challenge, she said, and of the 56 who were accepted, ultimately 44 were able to compete on Friday and Saturday.
- This year's lineup includes local competitors like the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the Albertville Innovation Academy, alongside teams from India, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Canada.
- More than 500 students comprise the teams, Alexander said, and on hand this weekend were many more spectators, mentors and supporters.
How it works: Teams have nine months to construct human-powered or remote-controlled rovers that will run the roughly one-mile course, conducting tasks along the way.
- They're scored on everything from design milestones and readiness reviews before the event to completing tasks and how fast they finish the course.
The bottom line: Winners hadn't been decided by time of writing, but should be announced today.