NASA Challenge Tests Wheel Designs for Moon Base Mobility¶
Page: NASA Johnson article by Sumer Loggins, 17 August 2026.
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/nasa-challenge-tests-wheel-designs-for-moon-base-mobility/.
Fetched 2026-10-01T06:23:45Z. File:
sources/moon-base/nasa-gov-centers-and-facilities-johnson-nasa-challenge-tests-wheel-designs-for-moon-base-m.md.
Summary. The article reports the final round of the "Rock and Roll with NASA" challenge, a crowdsourced competition for lunar rover wheels. It drew 128 submissions from 49 countries; five finalists were tested on 31 July 2026 at Johnson's Rock Yard on the 45 kg MicroChariot test rover. The winner was the "Scotch Pad Tyres" design, a Nomex-based tire. It is one example of how NASA is working on Moon Base mobility.
Key points¶
- What the challenge sought: wheels that are "lightweight, durable, and scalable" for "longer-duration lunar surface operations". They had to be "compliant enough to absorb impacts, maintain traction at higher speeds, and withstand the harsh lunar environment".
- Finding: "different terrains may require different approaches. Loose material can affect traction, while rocks and slopes place different demands on wheels".
- Possible next phase: tests in "lunar-like dust, vacuum, and extreme temperatures in Johnson's thermal vacuum chambers", and over longer distances and at other sizes and loads.
- Who ran it:
- Johnson's Common Robotics Project conducted the challenge.
- NASA's Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (in the Research and Technology Mission Directorate) managed the contract.
- HeroX administered it.