ROLLA, Missouri USA — A team of students at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla is among 11 college and university teams in eight states that will participate in NASA’s 2007-2008 University Student Launch Initiative rocketeering challenge.

The annual challenge is designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, engineering, math and technology.

Reeds Spring physics teacher Tonya Lewis and her physics class is looking forward to doing a launch, similar to that which the Rolla students will be doing, at the high school level.

Lewis said the lessons the students learn from projects like these are invaluable.

“It is a lesson that can not be taught any other way,” she said.

For the first time this spring, Lewis is challenging her students to design and launch rockets. This won’t be the first time Reeds Spring students have launched rockets, but this will be the first for this kind of launch, where students actually help design and use fuel for launching.

In the past, lower grades have used water pressure to launch rockets, but have never taken the rockets to competition.

The University Student Launch Initiative was founded in 2006 as a sister program to NASA’s rocket-building initiative for high school students. The initiative is hosted by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and state Space Grant Consortiums, with primary corporate sponsorship by ATK Launch Systems in Brigham City, Utah. Space Grant Consortiums are coalitions of state college, universities and other institutions, funded by NASA to promote interest in technical careers through innovative space-related courses, real-world hands-on science and engineering programs and interactive outreach opportunities.

The challenge gives students hands-on, practical experience in managing aerospace and engineering projects similar to those found in a professional environment. Guided by Marshall Center engineers and their own science and math professors, the team will spend eight months designing, building and launching rockets with built-in, working science payloads and a goal of flying to an altitude of one mile.

“It’s a pleasure and a privilege to invite these teams to participate in this year’s challenge,” said Tammy Rowan, manager of the Marshall Center’s Academic Affairs Office. “The University Student Launch Initiative is a vital part of NASA’s education mission — helping foster new generations of scientists, engineers and explorers.

Other teams participating in this year’s challenge are teams from Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.;Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Ala,; the University of Alabama in Huntsville; Harding University in Searcy, Ark.; Mississippi State University in Starkville; the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks; Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.; Vanderbilt University in Nashville; Utah State University in Logan; and College of Menominee Nation in Green Bay, Wis.

Each team raises its own funds for the project and associated travel, or seeks sponsorship by local businesses or aerospace industry.

The 2007-2008 challenge will conclude in spring 2008, when the student teams gather in Huntsville for a final launch activity.

Copyright © 2007, Brandon Daily News.