First Place: $5,000 | Physical Triangulation Tool

Team Lead: Daniel Barry from the United States

This submission introduces an ultra-lightweight (<100g), low-cost (<$10) navigational aid that provides both heading and location without requiring power or communications. By combining a clear sleeve, blunt pegs, simple sticks, and a printed page, astronauts can orient themselves accurately on the lunar surface. Its minimal parts are straightforward to fabricate or repair on-site, and terrestrial tests using heavy mittens demonstrated 5-minute training to achieve mission-required precision.

Second Place: $2,500 | Lunar Position Angle Ruler

Team Lead: Jonathan Layman from the United States

The Lunar Angle Ruler is a purely analog device that leverages circumpolar celestial bodies visible from the Moon’s south pole, as well as a known waypoint, to determine heading. Designed to operate under low-light conditions without electronics, this method provides continuous feedback of the user’s position relative to a fixed reference point. By integrating a clear mechanical interface and dust protection, the tool aims to offer a reliable, power-free solution for lunar explorers.

Third Place: $2,500 | Lunar Orienteering Suite

Team Lead: Neil Shah, Kandarp Vadia, Mahatma Kollu, Om Patel  from the United States

This submission features a four-part system—a gyroscope, solar compass, gas thermometer, and stopwatch—to establish and maintain heading in lunar conditions. Initial measurements of the Sun’s position are recorded with the solar compass, then the gyroscope preserves heading through dark or shadowed regions. The device’s purely mechanical design negates the need for electric power, offering a resilient navigational approach adaptable to variable lunar lighting and temperature extremes.

Fourth Place | Star Analog Navigation Device (SAND), Harry Espiloy (@harrye3), Quill Starling, Ian Graham, Edmy Cruz Reyes, Justin Bailey, Paula Drozdowska from the United States

SAND proposes a lightweight navigational method using celestial bodies and terrain references to calculate latitude and longitude. Built from aluminum 7075 and PEEK, this additive-manufactured device resists harsh lunar environments while minimizing both cost and complexity. By measuring angles to the Sun, stars, and local landmarks, SAND can guide “lost astronauts” without relying on electronic sensors or external power sources.

Fifth Place | Wheelie, Mathias Ionescu-Tira (@shoebert), Jürgen Hartmaier from Germany

This concept uses the difference in wheel travel along curved paths to provide an absolute heading. A built-in needle and angular scale track how the path deviates between wheels. When set on a support rod, readings from an odometer and inclinometer allow the astronaut to calculate changes in elevation. In doing so, the system updates the user’s three-dimensional location—offering an integrated, non-electronic approach to both heading and altitude tracking.

Sixth Place | Lunar Home Finder, Joshua Sorell (@jmsorell) from Canada

The Home Finder is a purely mechanical pointer that always indicates a preset direction—such as a home base or lander—regardless of the astronaut’s heading. It relies on an internal set of gears and an odometer, powered by the astronaut’s movements rather than electricity or software. Compact and robust, the device ensures that explorers can orient themselves quickly and maintain a reliable reference point at all times.

Seventh Place | Monocular Absolute Positioning (M.A.P.), Adam Weston (@Solution3205)  from United States

This submission harnesses simple trigonometry and polar coordinates to determine accurate locations on the lunar surface—without complex algorithms or electronics. Resembling the operation of a microscope, its design adapts to environmental challenges through rugged materials and straightforward geometry. By plotting paths in advance or performing direct measurements on-site, astronauts can navigate efficiently, even in remote or feature-sparse regions.

Eights Place | Lunar Manual Orientation And Positioning System (LMOAPS), Jeffrey Morse (@jbmorse), Steven Wu from United States

The device measures approximately 30×60×10 cm and weighs about 1.6 kg, attaching to a 20×20 cm EVA-suit plate. Through customized, pre-calculated physical inserts tailored to specific dates and locations, it offers real-time heading guidance without electricity or digital processing. The large, manually operated panels and dials are designed for easy manipulation in pressurized suits, providing a power-free orientation aid.

Ninth Place | Sync View, Nazarii Vareshchuk (@vnazar1985)  from Ukraine

This simple optical instrument features two input views that merge into one output view via a semitransparent mirror. With an adjustable switch and a long-focus eyepiece, it can be used while wearing a protective spacesuit helmet. By aligning on known landmarks or celestial bodies through each input view, astronauts can triangulate position and heading in a self-contained, power-free manner suitable for harsh lunar conditions.

Tenth Place | Shadow Compass Orienteering Device, Dennis Ragsdale (@deltaverde52) from the United States

Combining a sundial and relief map in an aluminum disc, this self-leveling compass helps astronauts orient themselves by analyzing current shadow positions. A 3D terrain model embedded in the center offers a visual reference of local conditions, and an etched mirror on the underside enables rough star-based navigation in the absence of sunlight. Entirely mechanical and shielded from dust, it provides a reliable fallback for lunar explorers.

Honorable Mention | Trig Point, Andrew Pullin (@Drewpan) from Australia

Trig Points are simple, passive markers placed at known coordinates on the lunar surface, forming a network visible from various locations—including crater rims. Their bright, easily recognizable poles allow astronauts to use line-of-sight triangulation for positioning. With minimal upkeep and no electronic components, Trig Points aim to support ongoing crater mapping and exploration activities by creating permanent visual anchors.

Honorable Mention | Polar Eyes, Kent Nebergall (@Knebergall) from the United States

Inspired by VOR/DME aeronautical techniques, Polar-Eyes adapts optical navigation for the lunar environment. Astronauts carry a forearm-mounted emergency pack containing a small theodolite, stellar reference card, and local map. Nearby towers with distinct markings provide known bearings and distances, enabling 10-degree heading accuracy and basic elevation checks. Power-free and compact, Polar-Eyes helps explorers maintain orientation in the often featureless lunar terrain.

First Place: $20,000 | Lunar Halo

Team Lead: Kent Nebergall from the United States

This submission introduces a modular rover system engineered specifically for extreme conditions in Shackleton Crater and other cold lunar regions. By exploiting low temperatures and reduced lighting, Lunar Halo employs unique design features that treat the environment as an advantage rather than an obstacle. The rover addresses lunar dust contamination through grinding and expulsion mechanisms, while an optional “roll cage” attachment—referenced by the “Halo” name—adds further resilience during exploration.

Second Place: $7,500 | Navigating and Mapping the Interior of Shackleton Crater

Team Lead: Po-Jen Wang, Aleksandr Kalmykov, Mingyan Zhou from the United States

This concept proposes two heavy-duty Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTVs) to stretch a fiberglass cable across Shackleton Crater’s rim. A specialized sensing module, equipped with a camera, LiDAR, IMU, and light source, traverses this cable to perform Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). The system’s suspended approach avoids hazardous terrain and delivers a comprehensive interior map of the crater through controlled, linear motion between the two LTVs.

Third Place: $2,500 | Nyx Autonomous Lunar Hopper

Team Lead: Ryan Manley, Joshua King  from the United States

Nyx is an autonomous hopper designed to survey and map steep, shadowed regions within Shackleton Crater. Running on hydrolox propulsion, it can land precisely in predefined safe zones, collect high-resolution multispectral topographic data, and detect potential water ice deposits. After each sortie into the crater, Nyx returns to the rim for refueling, data transmission, and maintenance, providing a repeatable solution for long-term exploration under harsh lunar conditions.

Honorable Mention | POSEID-N, Liam Murray (@SpaceTrajectory), Dylan Stephens, Alex Schaar from the United States

POSEID-N is a robust rover tailored to overcome the south pole’s 40-degree slopes, permanent shadows, and severe cold. Its hybrid suspension and omnidirectional steering deliver stable mobility, while an integrated sensor suite—LiDAR, ground-penetrating radar, and LED-lit cameras—facilitates precise navigation and terrain analysis. By fusing these technologies, POSEID-N promises comprehensive mapping of Shackleton Crater for future landings and resource identification.

Honorable Mention | SPIDER (Survey Platform for Intelligent Deployment, Exploration, and Reconnaissance), Dmitri Garin (@sweetjade00) from the United States

This submission proposes deploying a mobile survey system from a single rim location, lowering it into Shackleton Crater to study the terrain, gather geological samples, and conduct research. Taking advantage of the Moon’s low gravity, the platform bypasses the need for full surface traversal, thereby reducing risk and complexity. The rover-like unit navigates the crater floor, collecting scientific data and returning it to the rim station for processing.

Honorable Mention | Wheel-Legged Robot Utilizing SLAM and Multimodal Sensors for Mapping and Resource Identification, Nathan Hung (@nathan1104tw), Tommy Kaufmann from the United States

A wheel-legged robot lies at the core of this concept, employing a SLAM system enhanced by IR, near-IR, radar, and LiDAR sensors to chart Shackleton Crater. By adapting its locomotion mode to rocky or icy surfaces, the robot’s loop closure and relocalization algorithms ensure mapping reliability. With a spiral outward search pattern centered on the crater floor and LoRa-based data transmission supported by an RPS/battery power system, this design emphasizes resilient exploration under extreme polar conditions.

Honorable Mention | Mapping Shackleton Crater with Falling Beacons and AI, Alexander Poplavsky (@apoplavsky) from Poland

This approach features compact, deployable devices tossed from the crater rim at varying angles, capturing depth maps via onboard LiDAR during descent. Each device wirelessly sends its spatial data to a stationary rim terminal, where a two-stage map reconstruction algorithm (traditional plus AI) integrates the results. By leveraging low-cost disposable sensors, the system aims to produce high-resolution interior maps quickly and with minimal risk to crew or large rovers.

Honorable Mention | Near Exploration and Reconnaissance Flyer, Scott Mende (@scottmmm), Alexander Mende from United States

The NERF concept offers a rapid, cost-effective mapping solution for areas within a 20 km radius of a launch point. Simple elastic launchers propel multiple low-mass probes into challenging or remote sections of Shackleton Crater. Each probe gathers imagery, positional data, and terrain characteristics, supporting robust situational awareness. Astronauts or robotic systems can rapidly survey hazardous zones without extensive infrastructure, expanding the scope of lunar exploration.

Honorable Mention | Selena Buzzard (SB), Nishma Bhatt (@NbNiobium) from Canada

Selena Buzzard (SB) adapts a cable-car-like concept to navigate Shackleton Crater’s extreme conditions. Anchored by rugged cable lines, SB traverses shadowed regions at cryogenic temperatures while continuously sending data through a multifunctional tether connected to a base station. The system’s advanced suite of thermal, spectroscopic, and topographic sensors collects high-fidelity information on the crater’s surface and subsurface, enabling safe, stable, and persistent exploration.

Honorable Mention | LunarLENS, Andrea Chau (@andreachau), Zeyu Wang, Hongming Li, Alice Li from the United States

LunarLENS is a comprehensive MR platform supporting astronauts as they investigate Shackleton Crater. By combining LiDAR and thermal imaging, the system pinpoints volatile-rich targets for further analysis with the MSolo Spectrometer. Real-time tracking of environmental parameters, suit status, and crew health improves operational safety and awareness, ensuring more efficient research and navigation in the crater’s challenging, low-light environment.

Honorable Mention | Selene, Alaf Do Nascimento Santos (@dnsalaf), Bruno Fernandes Egger, Daniel Goulart Miranda, Erika Harumi Akashi, Giovanna Bueno Marcondes, Guilherme Bertoldo Guerra, Luan Gabriel        dos Santos Ayres, Rafael Peluzio from France.

The proposed rover is a robust platform engineered for precise navigation, mapping, and characterization of Shackleton Crater. By employing an advanced sensor suite—including LiDAR, cameras, ground-penetrating radar, and thermal systems—it gathers comprehensive surface and subsurface data while maintaining stable mobility on rugged lunar terrain. A beacon-based localization and communication approach complements the rover’s Modular Stirling Radioisotope Generator (MSRG), which ensures reliable power in extreme cold. This innovative design integrates proven technologies with new solutions to advance lunar exploration and support future missions.