University of Alabama Shines in NASA's Student Launch Challenge: Astronomy's Rising Stars

University of Alabama in Huntsville wins NASA’s 2023 Student Launch Challenge.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ae9c36d-9f77-457f-a6f0-cc364f93adef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.61607128667865%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d548b02-6f55-4f3c-b1c6-1b25f363bee9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Event near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center involved 800+ students from across the US and Puerto Rico.

[{"selector":"#anim-d886159c-d442-4d92-9513-2258b05f4201 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-381b39f4-186c-4aa9-9b18-a6b2a2c1ff38","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Student Launch Challenge aims to engage students in rocketry and aerospace engineering.

[{"selector":"#anim-585712e5-e3f4-470b-9068-c0fbadb53f7c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.617187364181966%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1cc015a9-54c6-45dd-a4cf-f7bc42498a7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Rockets had to reach 4,000-6,000 feet and make a successful landing.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ff7819f-e54d-463b-af1b-26808fc80be7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.906249890207828%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7d68eb0-2a67-42db-a9d4-0d97804cbd2a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Participating teams worked on projects for nine months.

[{"selector":"#anim-2d2baea6-be5d-4557-99d9-3b0eed4c9ae2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.91406237811931%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3945bc65-c23e-44f6-9d47-ede347315560","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

University of Alabama in Huntsville secures first place in the competition.

[{"selector":"#anim-d4c7af76-0534-44c6-9199-b4b9eee93c6a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.718749889070086%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f38e099-8871-403a-9c0e-5ff88554598e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Vanderbilt University take second and third place, respectively.

[{"selector":"#anim-5d409963-08e1-4222-816a-93e1bac293a9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-794255b9-63e0-410d-8fb9-cbbf2c2b1609","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Vanderbilt University wins 'Altitude Award' with University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of Alabama in Huntsville following.

[{"selector":"#anim-352a63ad-94e6-4732-be0f-aee7c31ca9f1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.374999874848296%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a083c393-9a92-41f4-aabd-d707b2052bdc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google

Student Challenge connects students with NASA's mission of returning astronauts to the Moon and exploring Mars.

[{"selector":"#anim-5ec421a4-d0ec-41f5-ba2d-8b2007b7f2c3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d311524e-1972-4ed9-a43f-399370cf8a21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Google