STEM Education Series
Solar Rover
Explore like a NASA engineer!
Two solar panels on the roof soak up the sunshine and send this wooden rover rolling across the ground. Every sunny day becomes a new mission, testing where the rover performs best and how much light it needs.
It is real engineering, inspired by the robots NASA sends to explore places that are unsafe for people.
Solar Rover
The Big Idea
Engineers design rovers to make the most of the energy available where they explore.
- Ages
- 8+Adult supervision required.
- Renewable Energy
- Circuitry
- Engineering
- Mechanical Design
Safety
- Contains small parts. Not suitable for children under 3.
- Adult supervision required.
What’s in the Kit
- All materials to build one Solar Rover
- Full color, step-by-step instructions
What you add
Nothing.
Real-world connection
How Do Rovers Get Power on Mars?
Mars has no gas stations, so every rover NASA sends there must bring or make its own power. Several Mars rovers have run on solar panels that turn sunlight into electricity for their wheels and instruments. Engineers carefully plan where to place those panels and prepare for the dust that can settle on them, since the rover depends on sunlight to keep exploring. With two solar panels mounted on top, this rover turns every sunny day into a chance to think like a NASA engineer.
For classrooms
The Solar Rover is a great fit for classrooms, after-school programs, and camps. Each kit builds one rover and arrives individually packaged with all materials and instructions included.
Purchasing for your school or program? Request a quote.