Two Mexican teams participate in NASA competition

QUERETARO - Two Mexican teams will participate this year in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC), including one formed by the Aeronautical University of Queretaro (UNAQ).

Rodrigo Romero Beltran, a student of electronics and aircraft control at UNAQ and member of the Roach Team, one of the teams participating in this competition, explained that the group is composed of between 10 and 15 people.

Rodrigo Romero Beltran, a student of electronics and aircraft control at UNAQ and member of the Roach Team, one of the teams participating in this competition, explained that the group is composed of between 10 and 15 people.

In an interview with A21, the student commented that the competition will be held from April 17 to 23 of this year in Huntsville, Alabama, United States.

Romero Beltran recalled that he participated last year, as a pilot, but due to the pandemic, his participation was done from Queretaro, with the indications and tasks given by NASA for the construction of a track; the YouTube platform was uploaded.

Now, since there are no pandemic restrictions, they will travel to the United States where they will participate in person. The objective of this contest is to develop a vehicle for unconventional operations, with a view to future operations on the Moon or Mars.

Romero Beltran said he was excited to attend this competition, where the greatest achievement is to gain experience in teamwork, learning certain skills for the aeronautical sector.

He commented that they assemble the "rover" -bicycle type equipment- with pieces of sills, aluminum and metal, which are machined, and they design the pulley system, work that enriches the students.

The 20-year-old student said that last year, his team came in sixth place internationally out of 52 teams in track performance.