Katherine Rauscher of Michigan Technological University prepares her team’s prototype lunar robot for its turn during the finals for NASA’s 2026 Lunabotics

Resilient. Efficient. Autonomous. These are qualities NASA demands of its hardware, especially as the agency accelerates plans for a permanent Moon Base.

Katherine Rauscher of Michigan Technological University prepares her team’s prototype lunar robot for its turn during the finals for NASA’s 2026 Lunabotics