Student rocket scientists from 12 states will converge in Huntsville, Ala., this week for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative. The event allows middle and high school teams to put their aerospace and engineering knowledge to use in a real-world situation – by designing, building and launching their own rockets, complete with a science payload. Each team spent the 2006-2007 school year developing a rocket, preparing and presenting formal reviews for panels of NASA engineers, developing Web sites to showcase their work, and testing systems associated with their rocket.

The teams will demonstrate proof-of-concept during presentations of their rockets to employees at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville on Thursday, April 26, proving their designs workable and showing that each reusable rocket will perform as intended. The students will launch their rockets Saturday, April 28, on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

What: NASA Student Launch Initiative rocket exhibition and launch

Who:

  • Middle and high school rocket teams from:
  • Benson High School in Omaha, Neb.
  • Boy Scout Troop 39 in Marlborough, Conn.
  • Byron High School in Byron, Ill.
  • Covenant Christian High School in Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Colo.
  • Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Va.
  • Madison West High School in Madison, Wis.
  • Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla.
  • Southfield High School in Southfield, Mich.
  • St. Andrews Lutheran Church and School in Park Ridge, Ill.
  • Statesville Christian High School in Statesville, N.C.
  • Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Ga.
  • Weare Middle School/John Stark Regional High School in Weare, N.H.
  • West Point-Beemer High School in West Point, Neb.
  • Yough High School in Herminie, Pa.

When:

Rocket exhibition: Thursday, April 26, 1:15 p.m. CDT
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala.

Rocket launch: Saturday, April 28, 10:30 a.m. CDT
Test Area One, Redstone Arsenal
Huntsville, Ala.

NASA will recognize teams with plaques for excellence in the successful completion of the NASA Student Launch Initiative Project at a banquet in Huntsville Saturday night, April 26.

Media interested in attending any part of the event must contact the Marshall Center Public and Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034.