Indian students win NASA awards in Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Two Indian student teams from New Delhi and Mumbai have clinched awards from NASA for their outstanding performance in the Human Exploration Rover Challenge. The KIET Group of Institutions in Delhi-NCR secured the award in the “Crash and Burn” category, while the Kanakia International School in Mumbai was honored with the “Rookie of the Year” award.

The prestigious competition, which marked its 30th anniversary this year, saw participation from over 600 students representing 72 teams from around the globe. The Parish Episcopal School from Dallas emerged as the winner in the high school division, while the University of Alabama in Huntsville claimed the college/university title.

The final event of the engineering competition took place at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre on April 19 and April 20. The participating teams, which included representatives from 42 colleges and universities and 30 high schools from various states in the US and other countries like India, were evaluated based on their ability to navigate an obstacle course, complete mission-specific tasks, and pass safety and design reviews with NASA engineers.

Vemitra Alexander, the HERC activity lead for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, emphasized the importance of such challenges in inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. The HERC is part of NASA’s Artemis Student Challenges, which aim to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM fields and support the agency’s goal of landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program.