HUNTSVILLE — For the first time since 2019, NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge returns to in-person competition this weekend.

The time is from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Sunday – or until the last rover completes the course at Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

More than 500 students from around the world will attempt to drive human-powered rovers across a half-mile-long obstacle course designed to simulate the geographical terrain of the moon and Mars.

Some 48 teams from 16 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, India, Mexico, Peru, and Singapore.

NASA will host an awards ceremony Saturday at 5 p.m. in the National Geographic Theater of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

In its 29th year, the challenge – formerly known as the Moon Buggy Race – tasks students to design, build, and test lightweight, human-powered rovers on a complex obstacle course. Students must also complete mission-focused science tasks and submit detailed reports capable of passing critical design and safety reviews by NASA engineers as part of the competition.

The two-day competition and awards ceremony will stream live on the Marshall Space Flight Center’s YouTube page and NASA’s HERC Facebook page.

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement – Southeast Region is providing management support.

The Challenge is one of NASA’s eight Artemis Student Challenges – a variety of activities providing students access to the knowledge and technology required to achieve the goals of the Artemis program.