The journey started when our founder Er Anil Pradhan dreamt of preparing student’s team for NASA Rover Challenge. Young Tinker Foundation helped mentors to connect with students across India to teach subjects using hands-on learning pedagogy.
Navonmesh Prasar Foundation received World Rank 3 in the High School Division. Along with this, we also received Videography Award.
The whole process started 8 months back when we interviewed around 800 students and among those we selected top 10 students who later became the part of team Young Tinker Rover Team 2021.
Among those 10 students, we have 3 such students who are from economically backward background. One of them worked as a cycle mechanic, another is a girl working in a road-side welding shop and third is a migrant labor.
About the challenge
NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge features an engineering design challenge to engage students worldwide in the next phase of human space exploration This year NASA selected our proposal and invited our team to Huntsville, Alabama, USA in April, 2021.
Gallery : HERC 2021
Cutting of rover parts
TIG welding of the rover’s chassis
Vertical drilling for making grooves
Team discussion on design and analysis
Chassis assembly
Grinding axle rod
Our rover in action
Know the team members
Rishikesh Amit Nayak, Student Lead
Shreyansh Vikas Mishra, Ergonomics
Anjishnu Pattanayak, Management
Tanvi Mallick, Media
Kanuri Varshini, Presenter
Ankan Mondal, Brakes and Suspension
Nitesh Patnaik, Designer
Danda Pani Patra, Welder
Kailash Chandra Barik, Maker
Rina Bagha, Welder
Newspaper Cover Feature
Kailash Chandra Barik, Maker
Rina Bagha, Welder
Danda Pani Patra, Welder
Stories of Change
From left to right –
Former Cycle Mechanic – to now Welder, Team YTSAT
Former worked at roadside welding shop – to now Welder, Team YTSAT
Former Migrant Labourer – to now Welder, Team YTSAT
Young Tinker’s HERC Team created history by becoming India’s 1st interdisciplinary U-19 Team to be selected for NASA Human Rover Challenge. The team received World Rank 3 and the Videography Award.