URC2026 Science Plan

Teams shall submit a Science Plan prior to the URC2026 Finals. Science Plan documents must be submitted no later than 11:59pm Mountain Daylight Time (MDT; UTC-6) on May 15, 2026.  Science plans will be submitted via the Science Plan Submission Form (link removed).

Format and Submission Details

Science Plans are limited to a total of 5 pages (not including cover page, references, and chemical safety plan status question).  Pages should be in letterpaper size (8.5 in. x 11 in.), with margins no smaller than 1 in. (2.5 cm), text in Calibri 11 point font (or similarly sized font), and single spaced.  Electronic submissions are required in *.pdf file format.

References shall be cited where appropriate.  All content (including, but not limited to, text, images, figures) not created by the submitting team must be credited or cited appropriately. Plagiarism concerns are taken very seriously, and are grounds for disqualification. The reference list does NOT count within the page limit.

Science Plan Content

Cover Page: (Limit 1 page) The cover page shall identify the team name, point of contact, science sub-team members, and an organizational chart showing how the science sub-team interacts with the full team.

The Cover Page must also contain the following statement regarding the current status of your Chemical Safety Plan.
(Use the following options for your answer)

• We submitted the Chemical Safety Plan on [Insert Date], and [choose the appropriate option]

  • have received final approval.

  • have not yet received feedback.

  • have received feedback requiring updates and are working on the revisions.

  • have submitted requested revisions on [Insert Date] and are waiting on final approval.

• We have not submitted a Chemical Safety Plan. (If you select this option, please provide a justification.)

Basic Knowledge About Mars: (Limit 1 page) For example: geology, regolith chemistry & pH, chemical composition, surface radiation flux and temperatures, why the surface is red, etc. A table, comparing Mars with Earth, would be an acceptable option.

Background Research: (Limit 1 page) Describe the background work the team has done (e.g., articles read, experiments performed, collaborations established and experts consulted) to prepare for the URC Science Mission.

Science Payload: (Limit 2 pages) Description of the instruments, and methods, the team has chosen for “on board” rover experimentation at the site. Justification of the methods and the instrumentation should be included.

Answer ONE of the following questions, based on your science knowledge of astrobiology and Mars. (Limit 1 page) Your team can choose any of the questions from the list below.  Answering more than one does not gain you any extra points. Judges will ask you one of these or a similar question in the field science briefing during the Science Mission.  So, have a brief answer for each of these prepared for competition, but only include an answer to one of the questions in the written Science Plan.

1. Why was Jezero Crater selected as the Mars2020 (Perseverance) landing site?

2. What significant impact did the Phoenix Lander discoveries have on the interpretation of the Viking Lander(s) results? 

3. Which instruments or methods would the team choose for an ideal life-detection suite for Mars and which place on Mars would you want to land? (Given no limitation in funding, landing sites, or data rate back to Earth).

4. What are the known survival limits for halophilic microbes on Earth?

5. Name one way that meteorites have influenced the field of astrobiology.

6. What is the difference between habitability investigations and life detection investigations?

7. Describe the difference between extant and extinct life and provide an example of each.

8. How many planets or moons are known to have inherent life?

9. Has life been found on Mars?

Submission Instructions

Teams must submit their URC2026 Chemical Safety Plan through the Chemical Safety Plan Submission Form (link removed). URC staff will review submitted plans and advise teams if any issues require resolution. Teams will be notified once their plans have been approved.

Submit Early!

Chemicals are only permitted for use if the submitted plan has been approved in advance by judges. Teams should submit their plans as early as possible to allow time to revise plans based on feedback.

The latest date that plans may be submitted is May 15, 2026. (Responses to judges' feedback may be submitted after this date.)

Requirements for Consideration of Chemical Use at URC

Teams are required to track chemical use “cradle to grave,” meaning from the time a chemical is purchased until it is properly and safely disposed. The URC Finals take place at a remote field site, and no chemical safety response measures are provided on site. The University Rover Challenge and the Mars Society are not responsible for any chemical, or its transportation, storage, use, or disposal.

The competition site is an active research area. Any chemical spills, improper handling, or improper disposal could result in contamination of ongoing research.

All teams must submit a URC2026 Chemical Safety Plan for approval. Approval of a chemical for one team does not imply approval for other teams. URC evaluates both the chemical and the proposed safety plan governing its use.

Required Information

Part One

• Team Chemical Safety Officer
  Teams must identify one student team member who is traveling to the URC Finals to serve as the team’s Chemical Safety Officer. Teams may identify up to two additional student team members as Alternate Chemical Safety Officers.
  The Chemical Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring compliance with the approved Chemical Safety Plan, including proper handling, storage, transport, spill prevention, and disposal of all chemicals. The Chemical Safety Officer must be present during all chemical handling activities related to the Science Mission.

• Training Acknowledgement
  Teams must confirm that all students handling chemicals have received basic chemical safety training appropriate to the chemicals being used. Training may be provided by the team’s home institution, advisor, or laboratory safety office and should include safe handling, storage, spill response expectations, and disposal procedures.

Part Two
The following information must be provided in a clearly defined and consistent order for each chemical brought to the URC Finals.

• Chemical Name
  If mixed, list all chemicals.

• Concentration/Molarity
  For chemicals dissolved in a liquid (e.g., Ninhydrin), teams should strongly consider transporting the chemical in solution or provide justification for why this is not appropriate. Any solution must identify the solvent used.

• Amount Needed
  Teams are limited to the minimum amount required for use on-board their rover during the Science Mission. Plans must specify:

  • The amount needed per sample or reaction

  • The number of samples or reactions supported per mission

Efforts to minimize chemical quantities and waste generation are expected.

• Storage Details
  Specify the type and size of container(s) used for original chemicals and any waste or reaction byproducts. Teams must identify secondary containment and indicate which chemicals will be comingled. Incompatible chemicals must be stored separately.
  All containers must be clearly labeled and properly sealed. Teams must confirm compliance with labeling requirements in their submitted plan.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  Teams must identify the personal protective equipment required for handling each chemical, consistent with MSDS guidance. Appropriate PPE (e.g., gloves, eye protection) must be used during all chemical handling activities.

• Use and Justification for Use
  Teams must describe how the chemical will be used and explain why its use is necessary for mission objectives.

• Disposal Plan
  Important Note: Disposal planning has historically been one of the weakest areas of Chemical Safety Plans.
  Teams must specify the precise and legally approved method of disposal, including identifying the specific disposal facility where all chemical waste will be taken. Disposal facilities may only be the team’s home university or a licensed commercial hazardous waste facility. Requesting disposal assistance from another university is not acceptable.
  Listing multiple potential disposal facilities without identifying the facility that will be used is not sufficient.
  Waste containers must be appropriately sized (do not undersize or oversize). Disposal plans must address mixed waste, particularly when multiple chemicals are used.
  Teams must describe how chemicals and waste will be transported, including secondary containment and segregation of incompatible materials to prevent reactions during travel or storage.
  Teams must provide documentation confirming disposal arrangements prior to travel, including the identified disposal facility, regardless of whether disposal will occur internationally or within the United States.

• Spill Prevention and Incident Response
  Teams must describe basic spill prevention and response procedures appropriate to the chemicals being used. In the event of a spill, exposure, or chemical incident, teams must:

  • Immediately stop work

  • Secure the affected area

  • Notify URC officials

  • Avoid attempting cleanup beyond basic containment unless directed by URC staff

Any chemical spill, exposure, or deviation from the approved Chemical Safety Plan must be reported immediately to URC officials.

• Safety Documentation
  Teams must acknowledge that they will include and carry the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each listed chemical.

  • Electronic submission: Chemical Safety Plans must include hyperlinks to all MSDS documents.

  • On-site requirement: Teams must carry printed copies of all MSDS documents to the URC Finals.
    
    

Prohibited Chemicals

Any chemical containing mercury is strictly prohibited.

Chemical Check-In at URC Finals

During team check-in on May 27, each team’s Chemical Safety Officer will meet with URC officials to verify that all chemicals brought to the competition match the approved Chemical Safety Plan.

On the day a team competes in the Science Mission, the Chemical Safety Officer will conduct:

• A pre-mission chemical check-in

• A post-mission chemical check-out

Additional Guidance

• Teams planning to purchase or obtain chemicals in the United States should avoid over-purchasing and obtain only the smallest amount required for mission objectives.

• Teams are strongly encouraged to consult with their institution’s hazardous waste manager or laboratory safety office for guidance, training, and disposal coordination.

• These requirements are informed by established hazardous waste management and laboratory safety best practices. Formal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) certification is not required; however, teams are expected to apply appropriate safety principles and exercise responsible chemical stewardship.