Students Challenged To Build, Test And Fly A Reusable Rocket

Fifty years ago, rockets destined to send humans to the Moon rolled out to the launch pad. Now, it is time for the participants of NASA's Student Launch competition hosted by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to do the same.

The competition is held annually and challenges student teams to design, build, test and fly a high-powered, reusable rocket while carrying a scientific payload. From all corners of the country, 45 middle school, high school and college teams representing 20 states will rendezvous in Huntsville for the competition. The public and media are invited to the annual rocket fair on Friday, April 5, and the competition on Saturday, April 6.

The rocket fair, to be held in the East Hall of Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville from 4-6:30 p.m. CDT, provides the public and media alike the opportunity to view the teams' high-flying rockets and payloads up close before launch day. On April 6, the teams will take the short drive to Bragg Farms in Toney, Alabama, to launch and operate their rockets and payloads for official competition scoring. The launches will begin at 8 a.m.

Teams conclude their week with an awards ceremony, sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corp., on April 6, from 5-7 p.m. at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.

Week-long Schedule of Events:

• April 5: Rocket Fair from 4- 6:30 p.m. at Von Braun Center East Hall
• April 6: Launch Day from 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (or until last rocket launches) at Bragg Farms in Toney, Alabama
• April 6: Awards Ceremony from 5-7 p.m. at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Davidson Center
• April 7: Tentative rain day in case of deterring weather from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (or until last rocket launches) at Bragg Farms

(Source: NASA news release)

FMI: www.nasa.gov