NASA’s 32nd annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge, one of the agency’s longest-standing student challenges, culminated April 10-11 with its final excursion event at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Spanning nine months, the challenge tasks student teams from around the world to design, build, and test a lunar rover powered by either human pilots or remote control. The annual competition concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing the top-performing teams.
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This video highlights student teams from around the world that competed in NASA’s 2026 Human Exploration Rover Challenge, held April 10–11 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center near the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Teams navigated a challenging obstacle course and completed complex mission tasks using human-powered and remote-controlled rovers.NASAIn the human-powered division, Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas earned first place in the high school division, while the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, won the college and university title. In the remote-control division, Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine, earned the top award in the middle and high school division, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama, secured the college and university title.
More than 500 students representing 42 teams from around the world participated in the 32nd annual competition. Teams included students from 28 colleges and universities, 13 high schools, and one middle school across 18 U.S. states, Puerto Rico,
Teams were scored on their ability to navigate a half-mile obstacle course, complete mission-specific task challenges, and pass multiple safety and design reviews conducted by NASA engineers, with awards presented across human-powered and remote-control divisions.
“This challenge gives students a hands-on opportunity to think like engineers and problem-solvers, applying real-world design principles to complex exploration scenarios,” said Vemitra Alexander, who leads the Human Exploration Rover Challenge for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. “By encouraging innovation and teamwork, we’re helping prepare the next generation to contribute to missions that will take us farther into space.”
Here is the full list of winners:
Human-Powered High School Division
First Place: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas Second Place: Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Third Place: Debbie Smith Career and Technical Education Academy, Reno, NevadaHuman-Powered College/University Division
First Place: University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri Second Place: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island Third Place: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AlabamaRemote-Control Middle School/High School Division
First Place: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine Second Place: SoulPhamm, South Plainfield, New Jersey Third Place: Space and Engineering Technologies Academy, San Antonio, TexasRemote-Control College/University Division
First Place: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama Second Place: South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota Third Place: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FloridaRookie of the Year
Gould Academy, Bethel, MaineTask Challenge Award
Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine College/University Division: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama Human-Powered High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas College/University Division: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode IslandIngenuity Award
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, CanadaPhoenix Award
Human-Powered High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas College/University Division: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine College/University Division: University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C.Project Review Award
Human-Powered High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas College/University Division: University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: SoulPhamm, South Plainfield, New Jersey College/University Division: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AlabamaIndustry STEM Engagement Award
Human-Powered High School Division: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado College/University Division: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, MaineCommunity STEM Engagement Award
Human-Powered High School Division: Debbie Smith Career and Technical Education Academy, Reno, Nevada College/University Division: Universidad Aeronáutica en Querétaro, Coyote, Mexico Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: Chaminade High School, Mineola, New York College/University Division: ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, IndiaSocial Media Award
Human-Powered High School Division: Albertville Innovation Academy, Albertville, Alabama College/University Division: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: Space and Engineering Technologies Academy, San Antonio, Texas College/University Division: ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, IndiaTeam Spirit Award
Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicCrash and Burn Award
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (Human Powered), Huntsville, AlabamaMost Improved Performance Award
Human-Powered High School Division: Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii College/University Division: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama Remote-Control Middle School/High School Division: Gould Academy, Bethel, Maine College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North CarolinaSafety Award
High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas College/University Division: University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MissouriPit Crew Award
High School Division: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North CarolinaFeatherweight Award
Campbell University, Buies Creek, North CarolinaThe rover challenge is one of NASA’s eight Artemis Student Challenges reflecting the goals of the Artemis program, which will land Americans on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration, preparing for future human missions to Mars. NASA uses such challenges to encourage students to pursue degrees and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The competition is managed by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement at NASA Marshall. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated – with many former students working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry.
Learn more about the Human Exploration Rover Challenge.
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Last Updated Apr 13, 2026 EditorLee MohonContactLance D. [email protected] Space Flight CenterRelated Terms
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