Project-based learning: building a rover to explore the moon
Students design an innovative rover to enable astronauts to explore the Moon, as part of a competition run by the CNES. A project proposed as part of their training to apply the knowledge acquired in the aeronautics, space and automotive programs. If selected, they will build their prototype this summer.
Move to the Moon, a student challenge on space mobility
On the occasion of the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the world’s largest event in the field, held in September 2022 in Paris, the CNES has launched a challenge to higher education institutions wishing to get involved in the space sector.
The theme? Individual lunar mobility for astronauts.
The student teams must design a light electric rover that can be quickly recharged and able to transport an astronaut in a spacesuit on lunar soil (slope constraints, rocks, obstacles, etc.). The students will have to be innovative to find new solutions for moving around on the Moon!
ESTACA team takes up the challenge
9 ESTACA students decided to try their hand at the adventure this year. Enrolled in three different school programs – aeronautics, space and automotive – they are making the most of their complementary approaches. This is one of the academic projects offered by ESTACA, conducted in teams and supervised by engineers working in the industry or teacher-researchers from the school. The goal is to give students experience of working in the business world, in a team to meet a set of specifications within a given time.
The students on the Move to the Moon project are working on a traditional rover, but with an important innovation in the wheels.
They will submit their application to CNES on June 30 and will have the whole summer to build their prototype to present it at the IAC in September if they are selected!
For these students, this is an important challenge and a great training tool: they will be able to follow the project from A to Z, from design to construction of a full prototype after one year!
