The Mars Rover Design Team at Missouri University of Science and Technology will unveil this year’s rover, named Horizon, at a ceremony scheduled for noon Friday, April 17, on the Havener Center lawn.
The team plans to compete at the Mars Society’s 2015 University Rover Challenge, held May 28-30 at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah. Last year, Missouri S&T earned second place in the international competition and was the highest-scoring team from the United States. Over 40 other university teams from six continents have registered to compete at the 2015 event, which is expected to be the largest rover challenge ever.
The competition requires students to design and build the potential next generation of Mars rovers, capable of working on the red planet. Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team began work on its vehicle in the fall 2014 and is now refining it in preparation for the competition. During the competition, teams will maneuver their rovers across rough terrain and complete a series of tasks. Teams must also present a technical report detailing the rover’s design specifications.
This fall, the team hopes to travel to Krakow, Poland, to compete as the first American team in the European Rover Challenge, held Sept. 5-6. Individuals can help fund the Mars Rover Design Team’s travel expenses through Missouri S&T’s new crowd funding website – crowdfunding.mst.edu. Supporters can donate now through the end of April.
Donors who give through the crowdfunding site will receive perks in return for their gifts. Perks include 3D printed scale replicas of the Mars rover, parts from a former rover and a day with the team. For more information or to donate, visit crowdfunding.mst.edu.
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