University Student Launch Initiative
[Students Higher Education]
[Available: Nationally]
NASA University Student Launch Initiative, or USLI, is a competition that challenges university-level students to design, build and launch a reusable rocket with a scientific or engineering payload to one mile above ground level, or AGL. The project engages students in scientific research and real-world engineering processes with NASA engineers.
Students propose to participate in USLI during the fall. Once selected, teams design their rocket and payload throughout the academic year. USLI requires a NASA review of the teams' preliminary and critical designs. The project also requires flight readiness and safety reviews before the rockets and payloads are approved for launch. Teams complete a Post-Launch Assessment Review to include conclusions from their science or engineering experiment and the overall flight performance. The Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review and Flight Readiness Review are conducted by a panel of scientists and engineers from NASA, NASA contactors and external partners.
NASA Student Launch Projects are sponsored by ATK Aerospace Systems. The annual launch event is hosted at Bragg Farms in Toney, Ala., and launch services are provided by the National Association of Rocketry.
› View NASA Student Launch Projects Overview Video
› View NASA Student Launch Projects Music Video
› 2011-2012 NASA University Student Launch Initiative Handbook
2012 Launch Date: Sunday, Saturday April 21, 2012 (April 22 Raindate)
Bragg Farms, Toney, AL
2011-2012 NASA University Student Launch Initiative Teams
Alabama A&M University - Normal, AL
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, CA
Clark College - Vancouver, WA
Fisk University - Nashville, TN
Florida A&M University - Tallahassee, FL
Florida State University - Tallahassee, FL
Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA
Harvey Mudd College - Claremont, CA
Haskell Indian Nations University - Lawrence, KS
Iowa State University - Ames, IA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, MA
Mississippi State University - Starkville, MS
Missouri University of Science & Technology - Rolla, MO
New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM
North Carolina State University - Raleigh, NC
Northwest Indian College - Bellingham, WA
Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA
Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Troy, NY
Saint Louis University - St. Louis, MO
Santa Fe College - Gainesville, FL
Tuskegee University - Tuskegee, AL
University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL
University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville, AL
University of Alaska - Fairbanks, AK
University of Central Florida - Orlando, FL
University of Colorado - Boulder, CO
University of Evansville - Evansville, IN
University of Florida - Gainesville, FL
University of Louisville - Louisville, KY
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI
University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, NE
University of North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND
University of Notre Dame - South Bend, IN
University of South Alabama - Mobile, AL
University of Washington - Seattle, WA
Utah State University - Logan, UT
Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN
Virginia Tech University - Blacksburg, VA
Windward Community College - Kaneohe, HI
2010-2011 Results
- Overall Project Winner -- Utah State University
- Best Rookie Team Award -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
› View 2010-2011 Student Launch Project Launch Results
For archived footage of live coverage of every launch, please click on the link below.
› http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc →
Other Awards
- Best Vehicle Design: Utah State University took home the award for the most creative, innovative and safety-conscious rocket design.
- Best Payload Design: Vanderbilt University won for the most creative and innovative payload experiment, emphasizing safety and scientific value. Vanderbilt's science experiment involved using the motor’s exhaust plume to generate electrical power while using a liquid cryogen system to cool the thermoelectric generators to near ambient conditions as the rocket climbed to altitude.
- Project Review Award: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology received the Project Review Award by delivering the best combination of written Preliminary Design, Critical Design and Flight Readiness Reviews and formal presentations.
- Education Engagement Award: The University of Alabama won for best inspiring the study of rocketry and other spaceflight-related topics at local schools and the surrounding community. Collectively, 2010-2011 NASA Student Launch Projects participants reached more than 21,000 young people with presentations and exhibits about their rocket-building efforts.
- Best Web Design: Shippensburg University won for the best rocketry website that was completed on time with all relevant documentation. The design was extremely user friendly.
- Closest to Altitude Award: The University of Central Florida came closest to the specified 1-mile altitude goal without overshooting. The rocket reached an altitude of 5,210 feet -- just 70 feet off the mark.
- Best-Looking Rocket Peer Award: Missouri University of Science and Technology.
- Best Team Spirit Peer Award: University of Alabama.
- Rookie Award: Massachusetts Institute of Technology took home its second award of 2011 by demonstrating the highest degree of success among new teams.
Features:
› Don't Let Inexperience Stop You From Flying
› A Higher Calling
› From a Different View
› Having a Blast
› Once Upon a Time, There Was a Rocket
› Science in the Sky
› The Next 'Next Generation'
› Touch the Clouds
NASA Student Launch Initiative
› View site
Team America Rocketry Challenge
› View site →
National Association of Rocketry
› View site →
NASA Contacts
Julie Clift, SLI/USLI Projects Lead
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center
Academic Affairs Office
Mail Code HS30
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Phone: 256-961-1334
Fax: 256-544-2511
Email:
julie.d.clift@nasa.gov
Eddie Jeffries/Jacobs ESTS Group, SLI/USLI Technical Coordinator
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center
Academic Affairs Office
Mail Code HS30
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Phone: 256-544-0399
Fax: 256-544-2511
Email:
edward.m.jeffries@nasa.gov
Additional Contact Information
› View Higher Education contact information
