NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

For eight rocket teams from seven southeastern universities, months of work culminated in high-flying excitement as their rockets lifted off in April and May 2007 as part of the NASA University Student Launch Initiative, hosted by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Image to right: A team from the University of Alabama in Huntsville prepares to launch their rocket during the 2007 NASA University Student Launch Initiative. Credit: Sherrie Super

A team from the University of Alabama in Huntsville took home top honors in the competition, which encourages college students to tap their science, technology, engineering and mathematics knowledge to design and build their own rockets, complete with a science payload. The project supports NASA's goal of strengthening the agency's and the nation's future workforce.

As the competition's winner, the University of Alabama in Huntsville team will have the opportunity -- sponsored by NASA and ATK Launch Systems -- to see a space shuttle launch. The Boeing Company also served as a major sponsor of the Student Launch Initiative.

The initiative provided all teams with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in scientific research and in aerospace and engineering activities. Other participating teams were from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville; Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.; Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.; Harding University in Searcy, Ark.; two teams from Mississippi State University in Starkville; and Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

For the students, the road to the launch was paved with other technical challenges. Along with designing and building their own rocket, they had to develop a Web site charting their progress and demonstrate proof of concept -- ensuring the design was feasible and the rocket would perform as intended.

Image to left: A team from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. carries their rocket to the launch pad during the 2007 NASA University Student Launch Initiative. Credit: Chris Shepard

"These students took their classroom knowledge and put it to the real test," said Tammy Rowan, interim manager of Marshall Center's Academic Affairs Office. "Aside from the technical aspects of this competition, they had to apply other problem-solving skills, whether presenting their financial proposals, developing a budget or pooling talents among team members."

To become eligible for the project, each team submitted a proposal detailing their plans for the rocket and payload. Once selected, the teams received varying levels of project support from the National Space Grant Consortium, an affiliation of more than 550 universities, private companies and local education institutions dedicated to inspiring and training the next generation of America's space workforce.

Related Resources + NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Education + NASA University Student Launch Initiative + NASA Education Web site

The high point of the competition was May 5 when seven of the student teams made their way to the open fields of the Mid Tenn Turf, Inc. sod farm in Manchester, Tenn., where the students let their rockets soar. One team launched on April 28 from Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. For all teams, the rocket itself was required to reach an altitude of one mile during flight and be reusable. After the flight, each team collected data from the payload, analyzed it and reported the results to Marshall center employees and other volunteers.

For the competition, NASA educators, engineers and scientists evaluated each rocket design, including propulsion systems, materials used for construction, payload and safety features. To select a winner, the judges also considered the altitude reached, how the teams conducted formal reviews, and the teams' Web site designs.

The Marshall center also hosted a Student Launch Initiative for high school students, with the launch occurring April 28. Both Student Launch Initiative projects are managed by the Marshall center with support from the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association.

Daniel Kanigan/Marshall Space Flight Center