Version 1: August 2020

Version 1: August 2020

Table of Contents

About the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge ................................................................. 1 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge Timeline ................................................................... 3 Requirements Checklist ........................................................................................................................ 4 Acronym Dictionary and Defined Commonly Used Phrases ....................................................... 5 Rover Challenge Requirements...........................................................................................................7

1. General Rules .............................................................................................................................. 7 2. Registration (US Teams) and Proposal Process (International Teams) Required Documentation ..................................................................................................................................... 7

2.1 US Teams Registration Process........................................................................................7 2.2 International Team Proposal Process...............................................................................8 2.3 All Teams .............................................................................................................................. 8 3. Communication & Documentation Requirements ............................................................. 9 4. Team Member Requirements .................................................................................................. 9 5. Pre-Competition and Competition Day Rules ................................................................... 10 6. Mission Readiness Review (MRR) Requirements ............................................................ 11 7. Excursion Readiness Review (ERR) Requirements ........................................................ 14 8. Vehicle Requirements ............................................................................................................. 15 9. Excursion Requirements & Course Information .............................................................. 15 Course Descriptions, Design and Point Allocations .................................................................... 17 Point Breakdown ............................................................................................................................... 34 International Team Proposal Requirements...................................................................................37 Project Milestones & Requirements ................................................................................................. 39 Design Review....................................................................................................................................39 Operational Readiness Review ...................................................................................................... 41 Awards ..................................................................................................................................................... 43

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About the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

? stem/artemis

Each year, the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) features an engineering design challenge to engage students worldwide in the next phase of human space exploration. The competition provides an authentic engineering experience for high school and college students. In its second year as an Artemis Student Challenge, student teams design, build and test technologies that enable rovers to perform in a variety of environments.

Explorers can learn from the challenges of our predecessors as we pursue future Artemis missions. In 1971, Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa and Edgar Mitchell launched on Apollo 14, an extraordinary, complex mission to the Moon. Like other missions, their story is one of man's battle against almost impossible odds, a story of highs and lows.

While Roosa remained in orbit aboard the capsule, one task assigned to Shepard and Mitchell was to explore the Cone Crater to better understand the Moon's early history. Scientists believed that rocks near the crater's edge would yield some of the oldest material. At one point during the trek, Shepard's heart rate reached 150 beats per minute (bpm). Both astronauts were stopping to take breaks, perspiring and gulping intakes of oxygen, and the internal temperature of their suits was rising dramatically. The crew had been gone from the lunar module Antares for two hours and were running out of time and oxygen. They had difficulty navigating the slopes and fell 30 minutes behind schedule. As a result, they reached a point within 50 feet of the rim of the crater before turning back toward Antares. The crew gathered 99 pounds (45 kilograms) of lunar material and achieved the goal of reaching the vicinity of the crater.

Teams design and create rovers capable of traversing a challenging exoplanetary-like landscape. These engineering challenges, however, are motivated by the assignment of mission objective tasks to be accomplished along the way. Just as in the Apollo 14 surface mission described above, teams have to make real-time decisions about which mission objectives to attempt and which to leave behind--all driven by a limited, virtual eight-minute supply of oxygen. Teams earn points as they progress through all stages of the competition, including documenting and presenting their designs and products in design reviews. The competition course requires two students, at least one female, to traverse a terrain using the student-designed vehicle of approximately 0.50 miles that includes a simulated field of asteroid debris, boulders, an ancient streambed, and erosion ruts and crevasses. The challenge's weight and time requirements encourage the rover's compactness, light weight, high performance and efficiency. As part of the competition, rover entries are tested to see that they would fit into a lander equipment bay, a maximum 5 feet long by 5 feet tall by 5 feet in volume. Teams earn points by successful completion of design reviews, designing and assembling the rover that is lightweight, successfully completing course obstacles, performing tasks throughout the mission; and meeting pre-and post-challenge requirements. Each team is permitted up to two excursions: The greater score of the two excursions will be added to previous points for the final team score.

HERC aligns with the Artemis mission to return to and explore the Moon. The competition emphasizes designing, constructing and testing technologies, including tools, mobility devices and traversing in unique environments. Teams must document their designs and technologies in a Design Review and Operational Readiness Review, mimicking NASA's design cycle process.

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NASA plans to send the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024 and develop sustained human presence by 2028. Lunar science on the surface of the Moon will be conducted with polar and nonpolar landers and rovers to explore areas not investigated by Apollo. This student design challenge encourages the next generation of scientists and engineers to aid in the design process by providing innovative designs and unique perspectives. The challenge also continues the agency's legacy of providing valuable experience to students who, may be responsible for planning future space missions including crewed missions to other worlds. Competition objective: Design, development, and test of a human-powered rover and accompanying components for successfully navigating more than a 0.50 mile course inclusive of mission tasks within the allotted time. The team with the highest number of points accumulated throughout the project year in each category (high school and college) will be the winner. In case of a tie, the team with the fastest excursion completion time will be the winner.

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Timeline

Thurs., Aug. 20, 2020 Thurs., Oct. 8, 2020

Thurs., Nov. 5, 2020 Thurs., Nov. 6, 2020 Thurs., Nov. 12, 2020 Thurs., Nov. 19, 2020 Wed., Jan. 13, 2021 Jan. 14-28, 2021 Thurs., Feb. 11, 2021

Wed., Mar. 10, 2021 Mar. 11-25, 2021 Thurs., Mar. 25, 2021 Thurs., Apr. 15, 2021 Fri., Apr. 16, 2021 Sat., Apr. 17, 2021

Guidebook released; Request for Proposal (RFP) released for International teams.

Registration opens for U.S. Teams.

Electronic copy of International team proposals due by 4:00 p.m. CDT (9:00 p.m. UTC) to MSFC-RoverChallenge@mail..

Receipt of submissions will be confirmed via email response.

HERC Registration closes for U.S. teams HERC Selected International teams announced and their registration opens

Team social media presence established, social media links list submitted.

Kickoff webinar and Q&A.

Design Review submission due.

Design Review team presentations ? Design should be complete and construction in progress.

Student Data Information and Media Release forms due for all teams. Final list of teams shall be complete. Team photos are due.

Operational Readiness Review submission due.

Operational Readiness Review presentations ? Rover and components should be complete and testing in progress.

Photos of completed Rover for verification readiness due.

Competition Day 1: Team Check-in, MRR, Safety Briefing, Course Walk-through.

Competition Day 2: Excursion 1; Surveys completed.

Competition Day 3: Excursion 2; Awards Ceremony.

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Requirements Checklist

Item

Due Date

1. US Registration opens and International Team Proposals submitted October 8, 2020

2. US Team Registration closes

November 5, 2020

3. International Team Selections Announced

November 6, 2020

4. Team Social Media List

November 12, 2020

5. Design Review Report

January 13, 2021

6. Student Data Information

February 11, 2021

7. Media Release Forms

February 11, 2021

8. Team Photos

February 11, 2021

9. Operational Readiness Review Report (ORR)

March 10, 2021

10. Rover Photo Verification

March 25, 2021

11. Mission Readiness Review (MRR)

April 15, 2021

12. Safety Meeting

April 15, 2021

13. Onsite Registration

April 15, 2021

14. Excursion Readiness Review (ERR) ? Excursion Day 1

April 15, 2021

15. Excursion Day 1

April 16, 2021

16. Post-Excursion Review (PER) ? Excursion Day 1

April 16, 2021

17. Student and Mentor/Advisor Surveys

April 16, 2021

18. Excursion Readiness Review (ERR) ? Excursion Day 2

April 17, 2021

19. Excursion Day 2

April 17, 2021

20. Post-Excursion Review (PER) ? Excursion Day 2

April 17, 2021

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Acronym Dictionary and Defined Commonly Used Phrases

Assembly Tools ? Any tools, straps, etc., that teams need to contain the rover in the 5-ft. cube configuration or to assemble the rover, but not needed for traversing the course or completing the tasks. These assembly tools may be left in the designated tool area adjacent to the assembly area as part of the timed assembly process.

Design Review ? The Design Review demonstrates that the maturity of the design is appropriate to support proceeding with full-scale fabrication, assembly, integration, and test. It determines that the technical effort is on track to complete the mission operations, meeting mission performance requirements within the schedule constraints.

Driver ? Synonymous with crew, one or both student team members (at least one female) that propels the vehicle over the course.

Excursion ? An attempt to traverse the course to accumulate points. Teams will have two excursion opportunities (weather permitting), one on Friday and one on Saturday of the competition. Final rankings are based on the greater point total of the two possible excursion attempts and points accumulated during design and readiness reviews. Teams are not required to attempt excursions on both days.

ERR ? The Excursion Readiness Review, or ERR events occur both days prior to course excursion and include safety and task material inspection.

HEO or HEOMD ? Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate provides the Agency with leadership and management of NASA space operations related to human exploration in and beyond low-Earth orbit. HEOMD is a contributor to this competition.

HERC ? Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Kg ? Kilograms

MRR ? The Mission Readiness Review, or MRR events occur the day before the first excursion runs. This includes the volume constraint, weighing the vehicle and unfolding/assembling the vehicle.

mL or ml ? Milliliter

NASA ? National Aeronautics and Space Administration

ORR ? Operational Readiness Review, or ORR examines the actual system characteristics and procedures used in the system or end product's operation and ensures that all system support reflect the deployed state of the system. It establishes that the system is ready to transition into an operational mode through examination and analysis.

PPE ? Personal Protective Equipment

PER ? The Post-Excursion Review, or PER occurs after course completion and includes task completion inspection.

Pit Area ? The area designated for preparing the team's vehicle and task components.

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