NASA has selected 60 student teams from 23 states to participate in the 2016-2017 NASA Student Launch challenge, to be held April 5-9 near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Now in its 17th year, NASA Student Launch is an eight-month-long activity, offering middle school to college-aged students a chance to design, build and launch high-powered, reusable rockets to one-mile-above ground level.
The Academic Affairs Office at Marshall manages Student Launch to further NASA’s major education goal of attracting and encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“We’re honored to continue engaging students in experiential activities that connect STEM skills learned in school toward meaningful applications in real-world, working environments,” said Tammy Rowan, manager of Marshall’s Academic Affairs Office. “Throughout the process, students interact with NASA scientists and engineers, gaining advice and better preparing them for success in future aerospace and engineering careers.”
A new feature for this year’s college and university teams is to select one of three payload options to design, test and demonstrate during launch. The choices include an onboard camera system capable of identifying and differentiating targets; a system capable of controlling launch vehicle roll after motor burnout; or designing a container capable of protecting a payload throughout flight. Middle and high school teams will continue to design their own scientific or engineering payload.
Interested teams were required to submit a proposal for comprehensive review by NASA subject matter experts. Once complete, teams were chosen based on detailed outlines of their rocket, its recovery system, payload, safety and educational engagement plans.
Student Launch mimics NASA’s project life cycle, requiring teams to complete several technical design reviews and presentations with the NASA workforce. The challenge contributes to the future development of NASA projects and aligns with current research, such as addressing potential technical issues during the agency’s Journey to Mars or to other deep space destinations on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket.
Marshall’s Academic Affairs Office manages Student Launch with funding and leadership provided by NASA’s Office of Education, NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, and longtime corporate sponsor Orbital ATK Aerospace Group of Promontory, Utah.
To learn more about NASA’s Student Launch challenge, visit: