Student Launch Initiative
[Students Grades 7-12]
[Available: Nationally]
The NASA Student Launch Initiative, or SLI, involves middle and high school students in designing, building and testing reusable rockets with associated scientific payloads. This unique hands-on experience allows students to demonstrate proof-of-concept for their designs and gives previously abstract concepts tangibility.
Both new and returning teams construct the vehicle that is designed to reach an altitude of one mile above ground level, or AGL. In addition to actual vehicle performance, teams are also evaluated on design and other criteria. This educational experience culminates with a launch at Marshall Space Flight Center in the spring.
Teams can qualify to participate in the Student Launch Initiative by placing in the top level two teams at the Rockets for Schools competition held in Wisconsin or by placing in the top at the Team America Rocketry Challenge, or TARC held in Virginia.
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 Huntsville Area Rocketry Association.
2009 Launch Dates: April 15-20, 2009
Bragg Farms, Toney, AL
2008 - 2009 SLI Teams:
--Boy Scout Troop 143, Giddings, Texas
--Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
--Denmark High School, Denmark, Wis.
--Frenship High School, Wolfforth, Texas
--Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, Calif.
--Krueger Middle School, San Antonio, Texas
--Madison West High School Team 1, Madison, Wis.
--Madison West High School Team 2, Madison, Wis.
--Mulberry Grove High School, Mulberry Grove, Ill.
--Plantation High School Team 1, Plantation, Fla.
--Plantation High School Team X, Plantation, Fla.
--W.G. Enloe High School Green Team, Raleigh, N.C.
--W.G. Enloe High School Gold Team, Raleigh, N.C.
--Washington County 4-H, Slinger, Wis.
Preliminary Design Review Requirement
> View pdf file (47KB) →
Critical Design Review Requirements
> View pdf file (22KB) →
Flight Readiness Review Requirements
> View pdf file (31KB) →
Rocketry Links:
University Student Launch Initiative
> View site
Team America Rocketry Challenge
> View site →
Rockets for Schools
> View site →
Rockets Guide
> View site
National Association of Rocketry
> View site →
2005 - 2006 SLI Results
> View pdf file (50KB) →
2006 - 2007 SLI Results
> View pdf file (69KB) →
2007 - 2008 SLI Results
Coming Soon
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
Additional Contact Information
> View Pre-college contact information
NASA Student Opportunities Podcast
Listen to archived interviews with students who participated in the Student Launch Initiative. (Note: Content was accurate at the time of publication.)
> John Leichty
