NASA SLI 2025-2026
The Challenge
It actually IS rocket science! Student Launch is a 9-month long challenge that tasks student teams from across the U.S. to design, build, test, and launch a high-powered rocket carrying a scientific or engineering payload. It is a hands-on, research-based, engineering activity and culminates each year with a final launch in Huntsville, Alabama home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The activity offers multiple challenges reaching a broad audience colleges and universities as well as middle and high school aged students across the nation.
Our Rocket
The type 4 E model 21, running on a K1800 motor, has a length of216cm or 85.03in, and a mass of 11.8 kilogram or 26.03 pounds. The rocket reaches an apogee of 1302m or 4286ft in still air and 1244m or 4079ft in 20 mph wind. It is the fifth edition of the general design, based on the previous 4 editions of fiberglass rockets, with itself being a cardboard rocket with a slightly larger diameter. Compared to earlier versions of type 4 E, the ejection method of the payload was changed, having the payload ejecting with the main parachute and hanging on the shock cord afterwards, waiting for the permission of separation.
