URC News

ProtoSpace Mfg Returns as Sponsor for 2025 University Rover Challenge (October 8, 2024)

The Mars Society is proud to welcome ProtoSpace Mfg, the aerospace division of Protocase Inc., back as a major sponsor of the world-renowned University Rover Challenge!

ProtoSpace Mfg tackles long supplier lead times that have become the norm in the aerospace and defense industries. It harnesses the unique mass custom manufacturing system pioneered by ProtoSpace Mfg to make custom parts and enclosures in 2-3 days, while also checking all of the boxes required in aerospace and defense, including AS9100, traceability and ITAR compliance. As with Protocase, the ProtoSpace Mfg division never requires a minimum order.

“We are thrilled to be returning to the University Rover Challenge as a major sponsor – and to be celebrating our tenth year of support,” says Allison MacDonald, Marketing Manager for ProtoSpace Mfg. “By providing support to the competition and student teams with our fast custom manufacturing, we take great pride in the fact that we can help students accelerate their rover development and push the boundaries of innovation. We can’t wait to see what teams come up with this year!”

Instead of using critical design time and effort taking off-the-shelf enclosures, parts and components and modifying them to fit their Mars rover design, all teams registered in the 2025 University Rover Challenge can deploy ProtoSpace Mfg’s state-of-the-art manufacturing to get the exact parts they require.

URC2025 ProtoSpace Mfg Sponsorship

• Each URC team will receive a $2,000 (USD) credit towards custom parts manufactured by ProtoSpace Mfg for its Mars rover.
  Note: This $2,000 (USD) credit will NOT count towards a team's rover budget limit

• All teams will receive a 50% discount on all custom parts manufactured beyond the $2,000 (USD) credit.

Check out The Journey of the University Rover Challenge, which documents the experience of URC teams who worked with Protocase during previous installments of the University Rover Challenge.

How Teams Can Work With ProtoSpace Mfg

Once a team is registered for the 2025 University Rover Challenge, team leads or other team members can email info@protocase.com to be connected with their designated account manager.

To learn more about ProtoSpace Mfg custom sheet metal fabrication and CNC Machining, check out the company’s website, Proto Tech Tip videos and blog. Additional details regarding the Protocase manufacturing process and important design guidelines will be available to teams in the coming weeks.