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Student Launch Adjusts Competition Structure to Remove Need for Travel

The health and safety of our Student Launch teams, our NASA workforce and our challenge partners has always been, and continues to be, NASA’s first priority. NASA has been carefully monitoring the health concerns related to the COVID-19 virus, particularly the risk of large gatherings and travel. NASA has determined that the best course of action is to replace this year’s in-person year-end events with home-based and virtual events. This will allow Student Launch teams to complete the competition without exposing any participants to additional health risks. The project timeline will be modified to accommodate teams dealing with closed campuses and local travel restrictions. The modified timeline and project expectations are outlined below. It is our hope that these changes will provide our teams with the opportunity to bring their project to fruition. Teams should contact challenge coordinators with any questions.

Amateur, high-power rocket launching
Amateur, high-power rocket launching
NASA

Overview

  • Teams will present and complete the FRR milestone as planned, but will not travel to Huntsville, Alabama, for launch week activities.
  • The Payload Demonstration Flight, Vehicle Demonstration Re-Flight, and FRR Addendum deadline of March 23 will not be enforced.  FRR Addendums will not be required of any team.
  • Teams will complete their competition flight at a home field.  The flight window will extend to May 25.
  • The launch field RSO or LCO will complete and sign a flight certification form for the official launch.  This form will be distributed in the coming weeks.
  • Teams that are unable to complete a home launch will be permitted to count the previously flown Vehicle Demonstration Flight or Payload Demonstration Flight as their official launch.  These teams must still compete and submit a Post Launch Assessment Review.  A flight certification form will not be necessary for these teams.
  • NASA will mail payload test material to each USLI team.
  • USLI teams will create a video to demonstrate their payload completing the challenge.  This demonstration DOES NOT need to occur at the launch field.  NASA understands that teams will not be able to recreate the payload retrieval area described in the handbook and previous communications.
  • Teams will complete a Post Launch Assessment Review as outlined in the project handbook.  The video link should be included in the payload summary section of the PLAR.  Flight certification forms should be included with your PLAR submission, either as a page within the document or as an attachment to the submission email.  The PLAR will be submitted by 8 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, May 26.
  • A virtual Awards Ceremony will be held in June.  Teams will be able to attend as a group or from individual locations.  Details will be distributed later.
  • Teams who are unable to meet the flight, payload video, and/or PLAR deadlines will be invited to complete the project on their own timeline but will not be considered for some year-end awards.

Project Timeline

  • May 25 – Competition Flight Deadline
  • May 26 – PLAR submission deadline
  • June TBD – Awards Ceremony

For more information about NASA’s Artemis Student Challenges, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/stem/artemis.html