Kick_Off_Event_und_Kindernachtrennen_2025

Sunday, August 10, 2025 (times from the race start at 11 a.m. are approximate)
Leipzig, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Old Exhibition Grounds, in conjunction with the Children's Night Race

This race is a joint event with the Leipzig Children's Night Race
Registration Children´s Night Race (girls and boys, age 2-10)
Registration for International Roverchallenge at 10.08.2025 for girls and boys, age 10-16

10:00 h Eröffnung der Stände, Startnummerausgabe
10.55 h offizielle Eröffnung durch den Veranstalter des Kindernachtrennens

11:00 a.m. Race 1, born in 2022, balance bike, 1 lap, 3 runs, Kuchenmeister
11:30 a.m. Race 2, born in 2021, balance bike, 1 lap, 2 runs, LRP-Auto Recycling
12:00 p.m. Race 3, born in 2021, bicycle, 1 lap, 3 runs, Frank Fzb/Cineplex
12:30 p.m. Race 4, born in 2020, bicycle, 2 laps, 4 runs, Veolia GmbH
12:40 p.m. Race 5, born in 2019, bicycle, 2 laps, 4 runs, HIT-Markt

approx. 13:00 h Rover Challenge 2014-2000, Rover, 1 round, 8 obstacles, 1 task, 5 runs

1:30 p.m. Race 6, born in 2018, bicycle, 2 laps, 3 runs, Zweirad Stadler
1:50 p.m. Race 7, born in 2017, bicycle, 3 laps, 3 runs, Konsum Leipzig
2:10 p.m. Race 8, born in 2016, bicycle, 3 laps, 3 runs, Sparkasse Leipzig
2:30 p.m. Race 9, born in 2015, bicycle, 4 laps, 2 runs, IKK-Classik
2:50 p.m. Race 10, born in 2014, bicycle, 4 laps, 2 runs, Höffner
3:10 p.m. Last race (4:00 p.m. at the latest)
Afterwards, the race ends and dismantling. Expected crowd: approximately 3,000 spectators

program at Pit & Race of Roverchallenge
10:00 a.m. Start of mini buggy construction for visiting children, crafting area
Pit area completed with all 5 Rovers
11:00 a.m. Welcome of VIP guests and sponsors in the VIP tent
11:30 a.m. Interviews with sponsors and VIPs
12:00 p.m. Inspection and interviews with Teams 1-5
12:45 p.m. Pre-start Teams 1-5

1:00 p.m. Start of Team 1 "Ganymed" Jesco / Lea HOLL GmbH
1:06 p.m. Start of Team 2 "Warrior" Michi/Leo / Shuyi Bosch Scheil
1:12 p.m. Start of Team 3 "Calypso" (Firine / Frederik) Dreherei Jakob
1:18 p.m. Start of Team 4 "Lunochod" (India Team) Doerffer GmbH
1:24 p.m. Start of Team 5 "Ophelia" Cosma / Leander 1st Mould GmbH
1:30 p.m. Final finish line Award ceremony
Interviews, repairs, and recruiting meetings

Download: Map Ovview-Race-Course-Obstacle Course-Pit Area

Description:
The International Rover Challenge, a competition for young scientists, combines sustainable micromobility on our planet with the excitement of international space travel. It offers young scientists aged 10-25 the experience of teamwork, creativity, and practical experience in exchange with like-minded people around the world.

Emerging from the initiators of the NASA Rover Challenge's participation of international teams (Prof. Dr. Jesco von Puttkamer, Ralf Heckel, and the International Space Education Institute) and their successful teams and subsequent teams over the past 18 years, the International Rover Challenge is, for the first time, accessible to all teams worldwide, without the restriction of a single national authority.

Space exploration and colonization is the future and is currently motivating an entire world. It is also changing the way nations view themselves, toward community. In addition, a completely new, environmentally friendly trend is taking hold on our planet with sustainable electrification and standardization for micromobility. Bicycles are being equipped with motors, controllers, and multiple wheels.

The International Rover Challenge not only offers the opportunity to build and test a folding lunar or Mars rover-like vehicle for off-road use, but also practical use on the road as a sports car, cargo bike, or electrically powered micromobile. It offers a balance of health, sport, science, and technology, while also providing practical language and ethics training.

The challenge is structured around state, national, and continental competitions, with the best teams being delegated to other teams. The World Championship then takes place alternately in one of the host countries. National space agencies and industries in need of excellent human resources support the project.

At the pinnacle of the competition is the Future Challenge, where the young multinational designers compete against factory teams from industry. The goal is to demonstrate the ability to drive 1,000 low-energy kilometers within a specific time frame using only solar and human power.

The International Rover Challenge is not a NASA Rover Challenge event, but is open to collaboration and the delegation of winning teams.

The International Rover Challenge will begin in 2026 after two test runs in Germany and India. Local organizers and ISEI educational partners are welcome to register as host locations if interested. Current host locations are Leipzig and Friedrichshafen (GER), Riva (ITA), Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Noida (IND). Other host locations in the planning stages are Starbase, Rio de Janeiro, Cuernavaca, Queretaro, Santo Domingo, and Nairobi.
www.internationalroverchallenge.com

Rules for the Roverchallenge

Requirements:
1. The rovers must be designed, built, and driven by the same students.
2. Dimensions: 38 cm body clearance from the ground, 3 m turning radius, 30° stable bank angle
3. Folded dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x 1.25 m
4. At least two brakes, safety belt, steering with safety components, fenders
5. Two pilots: girl/girl, girl/boy, or boy/girl
6. Helmet, gloves, at least full-coverage cycling clothing, sturdy shoes
7. The rover must be complete after the race.
8. E-bike motors are permitted for ages 16 and up, up to 250W, Torx sensor, 25 km/h max.
9. The rover must have three or more wheels and two seats.
10. Unstable rovers are not permitted. Sharp edges must be protected.

Inspection:
- Fold into a 1.30 m cube
- Weigh (informative)
- Carry by the pilots for a distance of 6 meters
- Unfold and make ready for use after timing (added during the race)
- Safety check, engine performance measurement

Race & Rules:

- Each team has only one attempt at the test event (later two) and must leave the course after 8 minutes, either at the finish or in the rescue capsule (O2 reserve).
- 400-meter speed course with three 90° turns, asphalt surface
- 100-meter obstacle course with eight obstacles + one task, gravel surface
(18-meter ramp, 180° turn, crater, gravel, sand, slope, grooves, soil sample, slalom)
- Finish time under 6 minutes (1-minute credit)
- Finish time over 8 minutes (1-minute penalty)
- Touching the ground with body parts (1-minute penalty)
- Missing obstacles, incomplete finish (1-minute penalty)
- Submitting a soil sample (1-minute credit)
- The unfolding time is added to the race time, and the credits/penalties are included.
- Teams that do not reach the target but do reach an escape pod will receive a 5-minute penalty.
- Teams that do not reach the target or the escape pod will receive a 10-minute penalty.
- Teams that do not compete will receive a 1-hour penalty.

 
Categories:

- Muscle-powered (excluding electric drive)
- Electric chain-assisted
- Electric chain-assisted (serial hybrid)

Age groups:
Junior 10-14 Senior14-19 Professional 19-25

Awards:

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prizes (podium prizes based on best time, including credit and penalties)
Innovation Award (for the best design idea)
Environment Award (for sustainable energy supply)
Best Design Award (for the most beautiful design)
Telemetry Award (for successful onboard data transmission and analysis)
Inclusion Award (for the smartest idea for adjusting seats to different body sizes or having team members with disabilities)
Putting Chamber Award (for the largest successfully collected soil sample, weight)

The Jury:
The jury includes the organizers and invited expert judges from the aerospace/science and mobility sectors, as well as experienced pilots from ISEI teams with podium finishes (2007-2019), as well as dedicated partners, supporters, and sponsors of the Challenge. The jury members are currently being appointed. Their names will be announced the evening before the Challenge during the accreditation ceremony. The jury ensures compliance with the requirements and rules, accepts complaints in the event of proven measurement errors (video evidence), and ensures fairness and transparency.

The volunteers:
Volunteers ensure the smooth running of the event on the day. They can apply in advance; they must be at least 18 years old and in good health. We primarily invite people with physical disabilities to serve as judges. They compile the timesheets, credits, and penalties simultaneously. All volunteers receive accommodation, meals, and a certificate if needed. Two afternoons of briefing beforehand are required, as well as participation on the competition days.

Background:
In the club's 20 years of history, bridges for young people across national borders have been built at a breathtaking pace. Led by Prof. Dr. von Puttkamer as ISS Director and the friendship with the Korolyov family (Sputnik designers), all the doors of space travel quickly opened for our international students on an unprecedented scale. Teamwork, integrity, excellence, and a sense of proportion led to impressive results from our competition teams. Inspired by this creative spirit, everyone is now leading their dream careers and beyond. The 2010s were extremely successful and multinational. India, Latin America, South America, and Africa were fully integrated as emerging regions. Our work has no historical precedent.

It was only the political regression and the pandemic that thwarted our further expansion since 2020. Fear of travel, reluctance, patriotism, and war are leading to the degeneration of our work. International participation in the NASA Rover Challenge, which we pioneered and helped shape over 18 years as a powerful driver of multinational career development, has since 2017 been reverting to a national competition due to its regulatory focus under the new administration. Limits have been imposed, rules have been negatively altered, and evaluation results have become opaque. International teams are now disadvantaged and merely a decorative existence.

We, together with our international partners, have therefore set ourselves the task of establishing a truly independent and international competition without limits and, in addition to fostering enthusiasm for space travel, making it accessible to wider industry and the education system as a driver of innovation and talent.

We continue to prepare our young people for the future with technology and practical experience, but now with even greater vigilance and responsibility for coexistence and the environment.

The 2nd race day
Ralf Heckel, 12. April 2025

Reports of the Rovernauts (link)

Here are the results:

4th place overall
2nd place in the race with 3:47 min and all obstacles
Most Improved Award, endowed with $ 500

It's Space Day. 64 years ago today, Yuri Gagarin launched into space. There are actually still people who consciously experienced this, for our students it is completely unimaginable given this period of time. The first space shuttle STS-1, the Columbia, was launched 44 years ago today. For me back in school, it was a marvel of technology and the name a symbol of the future. Unfortunately, unlike Gagarin's, you can no longer visit this spaceship in the museum today (although that has also become almost impossible today and has always been difficult, but not for us until 2020). Columbia was tragically lost in January 2001 with 7 astronauts during reentry. But we will visit this Astronaut Memorial at Cape Canaveral next week.

The day starts early, almost too early. It is difficult for the students to get out of bed. But the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. It is still fresh. Today is the day that the team and all of us have been working towards. Thousands of Space Hotel guests have paid a fee and umpteen sponsors have been involved. We have held hundreds of events. It took a massive effort to find a target trail with their advocates after Corona, between wars and elections as well as all kinds of fake news. Today, talk separates from facts.

Still tired but full of expectations, everyone gets into the van and starts at 7:30 a.m. Cosma and Leander get off at the Marriott Hotel to meet Hazel. The three have to consult and decide who is driving the rover today. Hazel didn't have a quiet night, as this hotel is where most of the teams are housed. They make a lot of slapstick - an experience with which we basically opt for a quiet holiday home nearby. But her father works for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and needs the hotel's business center.

Only 11-year-old Jesco is now on the race site. Henning parks the van far away and thus creates a time window for us because of the time-consuming bus shuttle. The press fits of the drives in the front axle still have to be welded. One of them surprisingly broke loose last night for training and went crazy. We had pressed the axles with dry ice and heat. X-fits according to DIN (German Industry Norm) are considered unsolvable, but the experience is now different. But the workshop was already closed for welding.

Proud as a bear, Jesco leads the rover downhill to the workshop. His legs are still too short, so he lies more in the driver's seat than on a sun lounger. It looks like a microdrive with autopilot. But he steers precisely and draws all astonished glances to himself. Some people give the thumbs up. But it is already over. He takes no notice of it. All his thoughts are now focused on the rover and its last pre-race repair. The time window is short, in 2 hours we have to compete.

Jesco confidently lifts the rover to its side and prepares the welding station. The pit crew gives him a welder shield. I dress up and arm myself with the welding gun. Then it starts, short and strong seams of 1 cm each, cool with water and again. Rover turn, done. These were still experiences from my apprenticeship 40 years ago. Jesco takes pictures and is amazed. Then the rover comes back on its side and Jesco drives it back even prouder. Now he has to kick. It's going uphill. This causes even more of a stir. All participants cheer him on enthusiastically. I want to help and push, but I can't keep up. Alone as a dwarf on the rover, which is oversized for him, he whizzes away to our pavilion. I know that this is not easy, but I am powerless. Gasping for breath but beaming at everything, he gets off and says: "It's great!"

In the meantime, the team of drivers arrives, along with our adults. There is still an hour until the launch window, but a decision has not yet been made as to who will be the co-pilot today. The team can't decide. So this is drawn by lot. Cosma shortens a cable tie and puts 2 between her fingers. Whoever gets the short end of the stick wins - at least that's what the team agrees. I capture this moment with the video camera. Hazel pulls first, then Leander. He has the short straw. But there are no emotions. Everyone feels affected between shame and joy on all sides. That makes up for it. A decision was made that could not be influenced in any other way. For me, this is a new experience. Never before has there been a draw in 18 years. Performance, time and ability were always decisive. However, this could not be assessed today.

Leander dresses up and Hazel braids Cosma into a braid. At 9:45 a.m. we set off for the starting line. I hand out last photo and film instructions and send all other participants to the course. Now Cosma and Leander are on their own. There is still a lot to do. The 5 on-board cameras must be started correctly. Battery and memory limit endless recording. There are 4 different types of cameras, and they all have their quirks. Yesterday, Hazel was filmed standing upside down.

Then the starting siren sounds. Firine (our world champion pilot before Cosma, last raced in 2019) writes: "With this siren, I still get an increased pulse today".

Start!

Cosma and Leander get off to a killer start. The rover shoots forward and drives over obstacles 1 and 2. At the 2nd obstacle, a crater, the rover springs quite high. After that, however, it slows down. Both kick, but the speed does not match visually. Cosma also remarked loudly. But at least it worked. And that's why I'm passionate about "Keep it up!" You couldn't have changed it anyway.

On the mountain then it was over. No progress. The loss friction must be too much. Cosma immediately decides to drive around the obstacle and has to push backwards. She gives instructions. Reversing on the hill seemed to fix the error (later we understand, the differential gear moved back into its bearing seat). With just one turn of the pedal, Cosma notices, changes its mind again, gives instructions and both drive over the mountain without a run-up and as if it doesn't even exist. So the journey could be continued unabated.

All the following obstacles are no problem. Exhausted and happy, the rover reaches the finish line after 3:47 min. But now the trembling for 3rd place begins. More is not mathematically possible for us because of the points awarded by the jury. This points are unfortunately totally not transparent. Our team stays in 3rd place all day. All teams with a chance of competition are through, except for one. It is the team from La Paz (Bolivia) that has carried our DNA since 2015.

Its founder Alina was 16 years young when we invited her to the summer workshop in 2015, i.e. 10 years ago in Leipzig. She was part of our team several times and brought this success to Bolivia and to the TV shows there. Today, Alina works as an engineer in California. She left an impressive mark on her country, so that today 4 teams from Bolivia have found their way to the NASA Challenge – even without us!

Shortly before the end of the competition, this team finally competed. Everything is at stake for her now. They are in 4th place. And they carried out without any problems. This turned the tide at the last minute. They slip to 3rd place and we to 4th place. It's only about 2 points. I'm proud, but it's no consolation for our team. With hanging wings, they enter the large room of the award ceremony at around 5 p.m.

The room is full. They have learned and the partition wall is up. Nevertheless, all places are occupied. At the front of the stage is a table with a large cloth and NASA symbol on it. There are many awards made of glass and some award boards next to them. Curious glances are always glued to it. Finally, the STEM boss of the MSFC enters the stage, greets and hands over to the MC (Master of Ceremony). This is the presenter who leads through the evening. The atmosphere is great and also takes our team with it. Prizes and awards are announced non-stop. The first middle school team is introduced on stage. A new category is included, the remote-controlled rovers, which inspired Jesco in particular. Unfortunately his enthusiastic team was denied.

Then the blow hits everyone! Our name is called. "Space Education Institute" has won the "Most Improved Award". Cosma sprints forward completely surprised and receives a large board from the sponsor, tears it up and the whole hall roars. She is very popular among many teams. Everyone who met us was amazed at the efficiency of the rover and the team. In terms of numbers, we are really the smallest team. There is a $500 price to go with it and there is no end to the joy. Thank you Bradley! Even the many more journeys can no longer detract from this. Two teams from the Dominican Republic in particular clean up properly and loudly. They also have our DNA. I was there in the fall of 2019 and gave a lot of hints. That makes us proud – especially since Latin American emotions are also a driving force here.

Tired and happy, they go home in the dark. There is pizza.

technical explanation:
Cosma still had problems with the front axle on the 2nd race. There was a slight thermal deformation of the wedge hub during welding after a broken CFRP drive tube the day before. CFRP was replaced with a steel tube. This meant that the spline shaft and spline hub could hardly slide in the drive. 1-2 hundredths of a millimetre prevented both components from sliding smoothly by a few millimetres while the suspension was working. This was already noticeable during the assembly yesterday. But milling tools or key files were missing for a remedy. We have oiled it well.

The differential gear was pulled out of its ball bearing socket during a jump in obstacle 2. Therefore, the team drove conspicuously slowly between obstacle 2 and the big hill. Fortunately, however, the rover still drove with it. This condition was only resolved on the big hill, 2 obstacles later. By rolling backwards, this was corrected by itself. Later, we can use a comparison video from the previous year to measure exactly how much time was lost.

At the finish, it was also found that the driver Cosma had bent the transmission mount. It applied so much force that this Fahler appeared for the first time, a component that has been used unchanged for 10 years.

Precision is unforgiving, not even at this competition. Here it was 1-2 hundredths of a millimeter too much at a single point of the construction. That's what I like.

In contrast to the previous races, the complete front axle is a newly revised part from us. It's all about saving weight and this should be raised to a new level of technology with press fits and CFRP tubes. It wasn't enough yet. Well, the problem is recognized and can be eliminated.

Our rovers have also been driven by younger drivers (14-15 years) so far. Corona brought a gap in the youth and thus a leap in time, Cosma is now 18 and therefore heavier and stronger. There are other forces at work, including emotional ones after a lifetime of participation in this race from childhood.

But Hazel and Leander did their job at least as well. Nobody could have done anything better - only more time for preparation and thus test opportunities were missing with all the new paperwork.

The little hero of the race is 11-year-old Jesco. He has proven that age limits are not an obstacle to achieving great things. His integrity, enthusiasm and fast, precise repairs have been instrumental in this success.

Result:

We managed to do this with a minimum of 2 students + an American girl and little Jesco. Other teams were staffed with 20-30 members, because their schools and universities include this competition in their curriculum. 80% of these participants are later seen in leading positions in highly scientific and engineering professions. After 18 years, we are still the only team in the EU. But there were 13 nations participating, all of which were non-U.S. teams directly and actively inspired by our involvement through field visits in the past decade. We now have to let our success have an effect on the countries of the EU, even with our own competition, which can become a stirrup for this race at NASA. We will open our drawings for all worldwide schools and support with a simple starter kit.

This must now be applied to Europe with a lot of force. This requires potent partners. This racing team cost us €50,000 per year. This cannot be done alone. We would like to see signals from politicians to encourage schools to include such vital experiences in their curriculum and more open arms of industry to financially support something like this without expectations - no matter what economic situation surrounds us. The loss of generations and talents weighs heavier.

After 20 years in Huntsville I carried ca 300 students to this moonrocket city. There were 26 own teams and 130 teams with a collaboration and our DNA. I visited and involved 30 nations. All students are now in proud scientific and engineering jobs. It is time to start our own competition with “painful transparency” (as Prof. Dr. Jesco von Puttkamer put it to me) and to erase the last blank spots in this world.

PS: Thanks to Firine Bugenhagen, our pilot from 2019, 1^st place. She makes her master degrees in space engineering this year, after 6 month also in the ERAU. Her winning Rover is exhibited in the Tyrolean Space Museum in Kramsach/Austria. This is the country from where the ESA general director Josef Aschbacher is come from. He already wishes us luck with a very kind email.

Der 1. Renntag
Ralf Heckel

Reports of the Rovernauts (link)

Everything is ready. The Rover is already in the paddock. It has been tested and retested for a year. Nothing can go wrong anymore. The pavilion is set up and chic. The team has lined up for a safety meeting. There are over 1000 pupils and students there. The mood is exuberant. There was even a dinner at the Davidson Center under the huge Saturn V moon rocket. The morning of the 1st race day begins with sunshine. Our two pilots draw a wide and relaxed smile on their pretty faces. So everything is perfect, one would think - but not today and not with us!

Even in the early morning, no vehicle on the course remained intact. Not a single rover made it to the finish line by 9 a.m. Our team felt safe and did a short training session on the grass next to the paddock. Then the mistake witch struck and they hadn't put their broom in the corner all day. An epoxy glue on the front axle drive came loose and the front axle spun without the wheels moving. Such a sh…t!

They quickly went straight to the workshop. Now the girls and boys learn how to pull themselves out of the cocoa on 3 hairs shortly before the start date. I resorted to a lesson with students in the Department of Strength of Materials at the Moscow Aviation Institute, years ago. If you want to connect carbon fibre composite and metal firmly, you need many small enclosed rivets. Luckily, the pit crew had small spring pins and an assortment of thin drills. And so not only the damaged area was processed, but all glued areas of this kind. It succeeded. Cosma took over the work after the first part and the team was then able to start the inspection even 15 minutes earlier.

The inspection or MRR (Mission Readiness Review) went easily. Our pilots mastered all tasks confidently. After measuring the rover without complaint, they folded it up and carried it 20 ft. It was then weighed. 85 kilograms. Then it was unfolded, after timekeeping, 8.9 seconds. That was the fastest time of the day. Wow! Then they were off to the starting line.

The queue at the start was already long and that dragged on. Many teams did not get off the ground after the start signal, or were already pushing after the 1st obstacle. I spread out all the members and fathers with cameras on the course and we waited eagerly for the announcement: "Team number 254, ready to go!"

Start! As if struck by lightning, Cosma and Hazel shot away, both again with a big smile on their faces. Startled, the spectators jumped to the side and were amazed at "WOW!". The first 3 obstacles were like butter. Cosma simply left them behind. Jesco is already running alongside with his video camera and looking for a new film slot. Now comes an obstacle that has it all, a slope. Many teams discard this obstacle or slide sideways into the straw bales. That gives penalty points. Cosma approaches them sideways in an arc. No problem.

Now comes a long stretch. Made of gravel. It lies only thin and uncompacted on the ground softened by the storms. You can tell that this saps energy. At the end there is a man-high mountain. They have to get over it. It almost works. Just before the ridge, the rover stops, shifted too late. But actually no problem. In 1st gear, you can easily get over it with this Rover. Cosma and Hazel shift down and press their feet into the pedals at the same time. Now there are about 300 Newton meters on the front axle. This is the torque on the crankshaft of a truck diesel. The chains and differential gear hold. But now the witch strikes a second time. With a loud bang, the CFRP drive in the front axle says goodbye. Both pedals spin. Dung!

But Cosma reacts immediately, lets the rover roll backwards down the slope and gives Hazel instructions. The moon mission is now becoming a rescue mission. Both have only a time window of 8 minutes and after that the "oxygen is used up". So both have to get the rover into the finish line somehow. This is the only way to earn points for a successful return. Hazel dismounts and pushes. Cosma steers. Our boys dash along with their cameras. Exactly! Only in this way can there be a continuation.

Completely exhausted and with the last of her strength, Hazel brings the rover Ophelia to the finish line with Cosma on the steering arms. Both are now really a team and despite everything overjoyed. There is water.

During the first observation of the damage, it is noticeable that a part is missing. It is the spline shaft hub. Just the part that was glued on and is now off. The CFRP shaft is completely split and can no longer be used under any circumstances. But if you want to save something here, we need this wedge hub. It is a metric part that you can't buy here in the USA or can only be made with a lot of effort. I send Jesco and Leander back to the mountain to look for the walnut-sized part. The two actually found it between the gravel, great!

Well, a relaxed day doesn't come to anything for the time being. Crisis meeting. You need 2 suitable pipes to replace the CFRP pipe, a turnery- and a welding machine. Cosma and Hazel immediately set off on the trail and search in scrapboxes for a suitable steel pipe. I, on the other hand, show the boys how to remove the differential gear and the drivetrains. The weather becomes inhospitable, windy, rainy and cold. But that doesn't matter. The two lie on their backs under the rover and dismantle.

When the gearbox was removed and the drives disassembled, the girls came back and had actually found something suitable. Perfect! Meeting and off to the pit area. Cosma manages all of this with a spin. I then weld and grind the finished parts and the result looks good! Jesco and Leander reinstall everything. Everyone is proud.

In the meantime, the place has become empty. Only a few teams are left. We're done, but we have to do another test drive. Cosma and Leander are supposed to put a lot of strain on the rover. They do so and the witch strikes again – today for the 3rd time. A press fit in the drive comes loose. Something like that can't really happen. We shrunk this X-fit ourselves with the students, with heat and dry ice. Something like this can never work out, but it does. It is so. The surprises do not stop.

I reassure the team. "No problem, then we'll get up an hour earlier tomorrow and weld it. I can do that without everything having to be removed again. Takes only 10 minutes.
Felix Schlang sends a message: "Test, fail, fix, repeat!" And that's exactly what it is, this is a trip that, despite 18 years of experience, always produces something new. Tomorrow is a 2nd attempt.

NEW: ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher expressed his respect and interest in the team and their idea to create such a competition in Europe by email on 7.4.2025. Negotiations are already underway.

Reports of the Rovernauts (link)

Finally, they are going on their way to the USA again. Feelings are mixed, much has changed in world politics. If you think back during the flight across the Atlantic, then all the signs suddenly fit together. As the leader of an international team, you have felt disadvantaged and excluded since the summer of 2017. Now it fits. It was DT's first year in office. Since then, this competition has not been as fun as before - and it has been steadily losing educational quality and creative joy since then. While teamwork and cooperation were promoted as core values of NASA until 2017, more and more rules have crept in since then to prevent exactly this from happening to international teams. This also lost the cohesion and willingness to cooperate, as other educational institutions naturally did not have the insight into the inner workings at NASA that von Puttkamer once showed me.

I have tried to keep this away from the students, but this year I have been open with them, a fact that is not easy. This new approach is already clearly measurable in the immensely increased effort to inspire and win over team members. In the meantime, it is not so much the students who turn out to be unsuitable, but above all parents and schools who think they have to know everything better. Thin-skinned is that. In spite of everything, tearing down bridges – no, not with me. We build bridges and maintain them as best we can.
So you don't notice anything of the customs roar from the White House here when you arrive. The roar is limited to a storm around us with everything you could wish for: strongly wobbling plane, slumping down 4000 meters into almost low flight, thunderstorms, heavy rain and finally flooding. A tornado also raged in the neighboring states. There were deaths.

But the living here in the USA, which now appears so different to the outside world, continues to take its usual course. The people of Alabama are courteous, friendly and relaxed, as always. Every now and then you talk casually and dismissively about "some bangers you had to experience", laugh again and move on. Or you avoid the conversation altogether.

So we arrive at Huntsville Airport at night after a 24-hour journey in sultry warmth, are welcomed by NASA engineer Terry, get our rental car and fall into bed dead tired after a 20-minute drive. There was thunderstorm all night and that didn't stop much until Monday night.

We started with a minimum of 2 students and still have 11-year-old Jesco with us. Although he does not have the required age of at least 14 years, he can be considered a full-fledged team member thanks to his technical experience and practice. He is simply needed, as you can read from his reports.

During the preparation for this race, I tried to rely on our international relations as well. Before the pandemic, I traveled around the world several times as the one who had opened the door to NASA for international educational institutions together with Prof. von Puttkamer. But the 1st and now 2nd term of office of DT are already showing significant damage, also in the regulations for this competition, which resonates with the desire for a new own and, above all, fair competition for all teams in Europe. It's my 18th participation and this is the 26th team after 46 rovers built with students. So it's not that we're inexperienced.

Nevertheless, the integration of a comrade-in-arms from Brazil ultimately failed because of her parents, who do not have this international experience and are obsessed with fear. But the involvement of Hazel, an 18-year-old student from Washington DC, worked. She attends McKinley Technical High School as our long-standing educational partner in the USA and wants to become an engineer. Her father works for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

We only met Hazel here in Alabama, on Monday. But that happened quickly, that's what young people are known for. The two girls, Cosma and Hazel, are the same age and get along at least as well as I do with their father. And so, for the 18th time in a row, an adventure begins that has long since determined our lives over 3 decades, produced many excellent young people and yet is not spared from all unthinkable ups and downs. Cosma fell flat into bed with food poisoning on Tuesday, Hazel struggled with a migraine on Wednesday. Somehow it feels like the last participation for the first time, but that can only be a feeling.

We have been fighting here for 18 years and now once again "Against All Odds".

So the 4 students and 2 fathers assembled the rover on Monday in a record time of 7 hours. We used the sunny Tuesday and Wednesday for tuning and photo sessions, a round trip and the evening for a dinner with US friends. All of this welded the team together.

Tomorrow, NASA will open the gates of the NASA Rover Challenge for the 31st time. We will set up our pit lane at 12 o'clock, because a thunderstorm is forecast for the afternoon. Then there will be a VIP dinner for all teams under the hanging moon rocket Saturn V. The race will then take place on Friday and Saturday, which will also be broadcast live on Youtube. The award ceremony will take place on Saturday evening, April 12, i.e. Space Day with the 64th anniversary of the Gagarin launch.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for the team!

Live broadcasts:
Live Stream Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/QVrDWzvyFFk?si=oA8IYdb7CY17zS00
Live Stream Race 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/6EIgTYwUHiA?si=ybFonBaCboL-xOkh
Livestream Award Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/U8hfuWji528?si=VCNzncSIxSM_dxhn

Activity report Rovernauts on HERC 2025 (US trip)

Saturday, 5.4.25, outbound journey (24h)
06:00 Start at Leipzig Airport
08:50 connection flight in Frankfurt
11-18:00 Chicago (local time)
20:00 Huntsville Al
22:00 Apartment
23:00 Night's rest

Sunday, 6.4.25, Preparation
-Sleep in, during thunderstorms
-8 a.m. shopping at Wal☆Mart
-9 a.m. breakfast-10 a.m. prepare workshop
-1 p.m. noon-2 p.m. Hazel comes, conversations
-4 p.m. round trip Monte Sano, see rocket, TV Channel 31, Puttkamer-House
-5 p.m. City Center with Big Spring Park, ducks, catfish, skate board, downtown
-7 p.m. dinner, reports, bed

Monday, 7.4.25, assembly of the moonbuggy
8h Getting up
8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Hazel is coming, departure
9:30 a.m. Start of assembly in the workshop
- Installation of a new spring in the front axle
- Replacement of the old rubber rings on the wheels
- Chains, seats, lamps
4:30 p.m. finished after 7 hours
5:00 p.m. shopping
9:00 p.m. Dinner

Tuesday, 8.4.25, Completion of the Moonbuggy & Photos
- Sun since 6 a.m.
- getting up, having breakfast
- 9 a.m. meeting with Hazel, Cosma is sick, has to stay at home
- 9:30 a.m. at the workshop
- checking and tightening everything, fenders, seats, chain swapping
- mounting cameras, flexing new camera mount, welding, drilling, painting
- interviews done
- around 12 o'clock everything ready, test drive in the yard, cleaning up with cameras
- cleaning up the workshop, packing everything for the race
- suitcase in car
- moonbuggy on trailer from chip
- Leander drives with Chip in the jeep
- 3-4 p.m. photo session at the Space Center
- round trip to the race site, still everything construction site
- 4:30 p.m. at the house, changing, repairing skateboard
- 6:30-7-3 p.m. at the Tennessee River, (Ditto Landing) with sunset and nice weather
- 8 p.m. back and reports

Wednesday, 9.4.2025. Excursions & photo sessions, media work
- 7 h getting up
- 8 h breakfast, meeting, media work
- 10 h departure
- 10:30 - 11 h Space Schop
- 11 - 12h Photo Session Team Portraits
- 12:15 - 12:30h from Braun Research Hall
- 13 h Lunch- Media Work
- 18-20 h Buffet 88

Thursday 10.04.2025, Set-up of the pit lane
- 11h Meeting at the workshop for transport
- 12h Set-up of the team stand

NASA-Event-Schedule
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Team Check-in and team pit area
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Teams Walk the Course Aviation Challenge
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Mandatory Team Competition, Expectations & Safety Briefing
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm National Space Club Team Dinner, Saturn V Hall – Davidson Center

Friday, April 11 Race 1
7:00 am – 4:00 pm Rover Mission/Excursion
7:00 am Readiness Reviews
7:30 am HERC Excursion Day 1 Aviation Challenge
8:00 am HERC Sponsorship/VIP Breakfast
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Launch Window Rovernauts, Team #254
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Team Lunch Served
5:00 pm HERC Excursion Course closes

Saturday, April 12 Race 2
7:00 am – 3:30 pm Rover Safety Checks Aviation Challenge
7:30 am HERC – Excursion Day 2 Aviation Challenge
10:00 am – 11:00 pm Launch Window Rovernauts, Team #254
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Team Lunch Served
3:00 HERC Excursion Course closes
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Awards Ceremony Space Camp Operations building, USSRC

Sonntag, 13.04.2025, disassembly