TONEY AL - The NASA Student Launch Projects (SLP) challenges middle school, high school, and college students in designing, building, and launching a reusable rocket to 1 mile above ground level with a scientific or engineering payload. SLP is an 8-month commitment requiring teams to submit a series of reports and reviews, develop a Web site, provide educational engagement in their local community, and provide a timeline, a budget, and other requirements.
More than 600 students from 56 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities are anticipated to be there, according to a news release from Marshall Space Flight Center. The launches are set to begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, weather permitting. Launch is free and open to the public.
The goal for students is to get as close to a mile as possible, and to do so with working scientific payloads that collect and record data throughout their rocket's flight. They also have to successfully launch their rockets at home, and create community engagement projects to get younger students in their communities excited about science.
The awards ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Each team is competing for various prizes including a grand prize of $5,000 sponsored by ATK Aerospace Group. The overall winner will be announced after the final reports are completed.
According to the news release, the rocketry challenge is managed by Marshall's Academic Affairs Office. ATK Aerospace Group of Magna, Utah, is providing corporate sponsorship and the National Association of Rocketry will provide technical review and launch support.
Bragg Farms, located at 1180 Grimwood Road in Toney, has hosted the launch challenge since 2008. Typically a TFR is issued for the launch over this location.
For more information on the Student Launch Initiative, visit education.msfc.nasa.gov/slp.
To watch live online, visit ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc. Follow on their Twitter at twitter.com/SLI_1MILEHIGH.-Marshall Space Flight Center