This fall, in collaboration with HeroX, a platform known for launching open innovation challenges to the public, NASA is set to debut the “Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge,” a global call to rethink one of the most enduring pieces of transportation technology: the wheel. But not just any wheel. The challenge asks scientists, engineers, hobbyists, and tinkerers alike to design flexible, lightweight, and rugged wheels that could one day help robotic rovers—and eventually astronauts—traverse the dusty, jagged surface of the Moon.
At the heart of the challenge is the MicroChariot, a small, semi-autonomous lunar rover developed by NASA as a testbed for next-generation mobility technology. The open call isn’t just about inventing a new tire; it’s about imagining how a deceptively simple piece of hardware can transform the way we move across planetary bodies. The designs submitted to the Rock and Roll Challenge may ultimately help NASA meet its long-term goal: sustainable lunar surface operations, including transportation, construction, and cargo movement.
“This is about building the foundation for tomorrow’s Moon missions,” said Christian Cotichini, CEO and co-founder of HeroX. “We’re asking people to think creatively and design something that has to survive one of the most extreme environments known to science.”
A Public Invitation to Innovate
Though the official challenge won’t launch until fall 2025, HeroX has announced a “pre-launch” period starting now—inviting potential participants to form teams, brainstorm ideas, and spread the word throughout their networks.
“This kind of early mobilization allows innovators time to deeply engage with the problem,” Cotichini explained. “It’s not just a contest—it’s a conversation about what’s possible, and how we can achieve it.”
The challenge taps into a growing trend in aerospace innovation: crowdsourcing. By opening up traditionally insular processes to the broader public, NASA and other institutions have discovered a wealth of untapped talent beyond government labs and corporate contractors. Previous crowdsourced efforts have yielded everything from astronaut food solutions to new ways to generate power in space.
In this case, participants are being asked to consider how a small, unassuming rover can serve as a proving ground for a much larger idea. Can you build a wheel for the Moon that can absorb impacts, navigate debris, endure extreme temperatures, and last through long-term missions? And can you do it without adding unnecessary weight—arguably the most precious commodity in spaceflight?
Rolling Through Harsh Terrain
Traditional lunar wheels—like those used on the original Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle—were rigid, wire-mesh constructs designed for slow movement and careful navigation. But future missions will demand faster, more dynamic travel, and that means wheels must evolve.
The Moon’s surface is a punishing environment: steep slopes, deep craters, sharp rocks, and ultra-fine dust particles that cling to everything. Temperatures can swing from searing heat to frigid cold in a matter of hours. These conditions would destroy conventional rubber tires or even metal wheels over time.
“Higher-speed mobility requires a new class of wheel,” said a NASA official familiar with the project, who requested anonymity because the challenge had not yet formally launched. “What we need are solutions that combine low mass with high compliance and endurance. We want wheels that can deform to absorb impacts but spring back into shape—without breaking, cracking, or jamming.”
It’s not just about creating a working prototype. Submissions will be judged on how scalable the proposed wheel design is. If a team proposes a compliance mechanism that works for a small rover, judges will want to know whether it can be expanded for use on larger vehicles—or miniaturized for drones or small robotic scouts—without the need for new manufacturing equipment.
Winners of the challenge could receive a share of up to $150,000 in total prize money across three competitive phases: design, prototype, and demonstration. But perhaps more tantalizing than cash is the chance to contribute directly to NASA’s next wave of lunar exploration.
Finalists may even have their wheels tested in NASA facilities—perhaps the ultimate validation for a backyard inventor or an enterprising university team.
Teams, Tools, and Timelines
The Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge will unfold in three phases:
- Phase 1: Ideation & Design (Fall 2025) – Participants will submit detailed concept proposals outlining their wheel or tire solution, the science behind it, and how it meets NASA’s criteria.
- Phase 2: Prototyping (Winter–Spring 2026) – Selected teams will be invited to build working prototypes, with guidance and feedback from NASA and HeroX technical advisors.
- Phase 3: Demonstration (Summer 2026) – Finalists will test their designs, with successful concepts potentially undergoing evaluation by NASA engineers.
Official rules—including detailed technical specs, intellectual property guidelines, and judging criteria—will be released at the time of the full launch this fall.
For now, HeroX encourages interested parties to pre-register, read background materials, and begin team formation. “This is a perfect opportunity for universities, startups, engineering clubs, or even passionate individuals to get involved,” Cotichini said.
Beyond the Challenge: A Lunar Legacy
Though the competition centers on a single rover, its implications are vast. NASA is not just designing for the next Artemis mission or the next robotic explorer—it is trying to define the infrastructure of a permanent lunar presence. That future may include power stations, scientific outposts, communication towers, and perhaps even habitats for astronauts or private contractors.
All of these ventures will need to move equipment and people across the Moon, and they will need mobility solutions that can survive and thrive in an alien environment.
“The wheel is something we’ve been using for over 5,000 years,” Cotichini said. “But now we’re asking: What does a 21st-century wheel look like when it’s heading for the Moon?”
For NASA, HeroX, and the global community of solvers they hope to engage, the answer might not just lie in the stars—but in the ideas waiting to be rolled into motion.
Learn more or pre-register for the Rock and Roll with NASA Challenge at: www.herox.com/NASARockandRoll