NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

NASA's Human Exploration Rover Challenge is a nine-month engineering program in which teams design and build a human-powered or remote-controlled rover for difficult simulated lunar terrain and mission tasks. Selected teams complete NASA-style Design, Operational Readiness, Mission Readiness, and Excursion Readiness reviews before they can compete. The 2026–27 cycle closes proposals September 17, 2026 and culminates April 21–24, 2027 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. NASA reports that the 2025 event included 75 teams and more than 500 students from 20 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 countries.