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.
2007 - 2008 USLI Teams:
Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Ala.
Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
College of Menominee Nation, Green Bay, Wis.
Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.
Harding University, Searcy, Ark.
Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
Missouri Univeristy of Science & Technology, Rolla, Mo.
University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Ala.
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
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
Sabrina Pearson/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) 961-0141
Fax: (256) 961-1521
E-mail:
sabrina.m.pearson@nasa.gov
NASA Student Launch Initiative
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Team America Rocketry Challenge
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National Association of Rocketry
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