Our history in the NASA Student Launch program
NASA Student Launch is a research-based, competitive rocketry challenge for college and university-level students. Teams design, build, and launch high-powered rockets carrying science or engineering payloads to a target altitude.
SOAR has participated in multiple NASA Student Launch competitions, with each year presenting unique challenges and opportunities for innovation.
Challenge: Deploy autonomous rover payload
Team developed rocket with custom payload bay and deployment mechanism for autonomous ground vehicle
Challenge: Precise altitude targeting with scientific payload
Achieved successful launch and recovery with altitude within target parameters
Challenge: Return to competition after pandemic hiatus
Rebuilt team infrastructure and competed with redesigned rocket system
Payload deployment and autonomous vehicle operation
Precise motor selection and flight simulation
Comprehensive flight data and telemetry systems
Dual deployment with GPS tracking
Each NASA Student Launch season provided valuable experience in:
Primary Site: Huntsville, Alabama
Host: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Teams gather annually in Huntsville for launch week, presenting their projects to NASA engineers and competing against universities nationwide.
NASA Student Launch has been instrumental in developing SOAR members' technical skills, teamwork abilities, and professional presentation capabilities. The rigorous review process and complex challenges have prepared many members for careers in aerospace engineering.