The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) won the inaugural URC in 2007, and was presented with their award by Dr. Buzz Aldrin at the 10th International Mars Society Convention in Los Angeles. Last Septermber the 2007 URC was featured on the Daily Planet on the Discovery Channel Canada, and is gaining visibility worldwide as a premier event for the best engineering and science talent entering the space workforce.

The team from UNR will be defending their title at URC 2008, but will face a larger international field and even tougher events. Teams and their rovers will compete in four events: geology and soil characterization tasks, a basic construction task, and a navigation task that will require teams to deliver emergency supplies to a distressed astronaut in the field. The official rules and full details for URC 2008 are now available at www.universityroverchallenge.org.

Interested student teams should contact the URC Director, Kevin Sloan, at kevin@marssociety.org. The Indication of Participation deadline is February 1, 2008. Former students and community members alike are encouraged to reach out to their alma matters and local universities to help form teams. Don't let your school go unrepresented at the 2008 University Rover Challenge!

Sponsorship Opportunities

The Mars Society is also seeking partners to help support the University Rover Challenge.  Visit the URC Sponsor Page, or contact kevin@marssociety.org, to learn how your company or organization can work with some of the most talented science and engineering university students around!