Pictures: NASA Lunabotics Challenge 2026 at KSC

Left to Right, Nayeon Son and Taylor Levitas of the University of Virginia work on their team’s Bruno robot during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Nayeon Son of the University of Virginia works on her team’s Bruno robot during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Left to Right, University of Virginia team members Lake Sun; Nayeon Son; Amith Polineni; and Richard Corp work on their Bruno robot during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama team members watch their robot make a berm during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama team members watch their robot make a berm during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama robot makes a berm during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama robot digs during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama robot digs during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama’s robot makes a berm during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

University of Alabama team members watch their robot make a berm during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

University of Alabama team members watch their robot make a berm during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The University of Alabama’s robot digs during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Judges Patrick Lahl looks on as Calvin Booth takes a photo of the voltage used by the University of Alabama’s robot during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

University of Alabama team members clean their robot after competing in the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

University of Alabama team members clean their robot after competing in the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

University of Alabama team members take their robot out of the arena after competing in the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

University of Alabama team members clean their robot after competing in the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

San Diego State University Lunabotic’s Athena robot before competing in the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

San Diego State University Lunabotic’s team is briefed before competing in the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Nayeon Son of the University of Virginia shows off a failed 3D printed wheel from their team’s Bruno robot during the Lunabotics Challenge at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)