University Student Launch Initiative
[Students Higher Education]
[Available: Nationally]
The NASA University Student Launch Initiative, or USLI, is a competition that challenges university-level students to design, build and fly a reusable rocket with scientific payload to one mile in altitude. 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 school 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. After launch, teams complete a final report to include conclusions from their science experiment and the overall flight performance. The Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, and Flight Readiness Review are conducted by panels of scientists and engineers from NASA and from NASA contactors and external partners.
NASA Student Launch Projects are sponsored by ATK Launch Systems. The annual launch event is hosted at Bragg Farms in Toney, Ala., and launch services are provided by the local National Association of Rocketry chapter.
> 2009-2010 University Student Launch Initiative Handbook
2010 Launch Dates: Coming Soon!
Bragg Farms, Toney, AL
2009 - 2010 USLI Teams:
-- Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Ala.
-- Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.
-- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla. (two teams)
-- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.
-- Harding University, Searcy, Ark.
-- Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
-- Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
-- Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
-- Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, Mo.
-- Mitchell Community College, Statesville, N.C.
-- North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
-- Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas/South Plains College, Levelland, Texas
-- Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.
-- University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Ala.
-- University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
-- University of Evansville, Evansville, Ind.
-- University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
-- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
-- University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.
-- University of South Alabama, Mobile, Ala.
-- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
-- Windward Community College, Kaneohe, Hawaii
NASA Student Launch Initiative
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Team America Rocketry Challenge
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National Association of Rocketry
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Who to Contact at NASA
Julie Clift/WILL Technology, 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: 256-961-1521
E-mail:
julie.d.clift@nasa.gov
Al Krause/WILL Technology, SLI/USLI Projects Coordinator
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center
Academic Affairs Office
Mail Code HS30
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
Phone: 256-961-1354
Fax: 256-961-1521
E-mail:
al.krause@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: 256-961-1521
E-mail:
edward.m.jeffries@nasa.gov
Additional Contact Information
> View Higher Education contact information
