Each year NASA MSFC, NASA ESMD and ATK sponsor 2 rocket competitions: SLI for pre-college students, and USLI for college teams. In April 2009, the 2008-9 USLI competition was held in Huntsville, with 19 university teams participating from all over the country. General information is found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/University_Student_Launch_Initiative.html Alabama Space Grant Consortium assists NASA in recruiting and training entry-level college teams, as preparation for the NASA-managed competition. This will be held in April 2010 at Bragg Farms, Huntsville, Alabama.

Last year's NASA USLI Handbook may be found at:
http://usli.gatech.edu/Docs-General/USLI%202008-2009%20Handbook.pdf

The NASA University Student Launch Initiative, or USLI, is a competition that challenges university-level students to design, build and fly a reusable rocket with scientific payload to one mile in altitude.  The competition engages students in scientific research and real-world engineering processes with NASA engineers.  Teams propose to participate in USLI during the fall.  Once selected, teams design their rocket and payload throughout the school year.  USLI requires a NASA review of the teams¹ preliminary and critical designs.  The project also requires flight readiness and safety reviews before the rockets and payloads are approved for launch.  After launch, teams complete a final report to include conclusions from their science experiment and the overall flight performance.  The Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, and Flight Readiness Review are conducted by panels of scientists and engineers from NASA and from NASA contactors and external partners.
 
This year, we will be conducting the Advanced Rocketry Workshops in TWO locations:
 
Advanced Rocketry Workshop #1
Dates: July 8-12, 2009
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
 
Advanced Rocketry Workshop #2
Dates: August 24-28, 2009
Location: Logan, Utah
 
For the Huntsville, AL Workshop #1, a block of rooms under Advanced Rocketry Workshop (from 7/8/09-7/12/09) has been reserved at:
Holiday Inn Huntsville-Research Park
5903 University Drive
Huntsville, Alabama 35806
Phone: (256) 830-0600
Fax: (256) 830-9576
Toll Free: (800) 845-7275
http://www.hihuntsville.com/
The block rate is for deluxe room at $89/night plus tax.  Check in is at 4:00 pm and check out is at 12:00 noon.  Additionally, they provide a complimentary airport shuttle service 8 a.m. ­ 10 p.m.  You may call the hotel directly and ask for this room block.

For the Logan, UT Workshop #2, a block of rooms will be set up at The SpringHill Suites by Marriott Logan at the Riverwoods Conference Center soon for the govt. rate:
SpringHill Suites Logan
635 South Riverwoods Parkway
Logan, UT  84321
Phone:  (435) 750-5181
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/slclg-springhill-suites-logan

You may choose to stay at any hotel, and all other transportation needs will be your responsibility.  However, we will be providing transportation for those taking any of the tours and transportation to/from the launch site.

During your time with us, you will: learn more about rockets, tour Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville) or ATK Space Systems (Utah), speak with NASA engineers and safety personnel, learn how to propose to participate in the 2009-2010 NASA Student Launch Initiative project, speak with experienced USLI past participants, and many other great things.
 
The workshop will be organized into teams of from 1 to 3 people, nominally from the same university.  The workshop will provide entry level instruction on rocketry, and a detailed description of the NASA competition process, from Proposal to Flight Readiness Review, with plenty of time for questions and answers. Each team will build a rocket that will provide you the opportunity to earn National Association of Rocketry, NAR, Level 1 certification.  Once we have confirmation on your workshop participation we will be shipping a high powered rocket kit (without motor) and other needed materials to your address.  You will build your rocket prior to the workshop and then ship it or bring it with you to your workshop (completed).   Other items will be added to the rocket at the workshop.  We will launch the rockets on the 4th day of the workshop.  NAR rules allow only one individual certification per launch, and that only for the individual who built the rocket.
 
The USLI competition rules follow the process used by NASA for the design, fabrication and launch of Space Hardware. If you have not attended a previous USLI competition and are not familiar with requirements for the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), and  Flight Readiness Review (FRR), you are strongly advised to send someone to a workshop.

Registration and Costs:
$100/person registration fee.  (The rest of the fees are being waived.  Your main expense will be travel related).
Mail registration fee checks to (or bring with you):
Alabama Space Grant Consortium
Attn: Debora Nielson
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
MSB 205
Huntsville, AL 35899
Tax ID#: 63-0520830

Participation of Foreign Students:
There is no requirement for U.S. citizenship in order for a student or adviser to participate in the USLI competition. However, we are sorry that visits and tours of MSFC in Huntsville and ATK facilities in Utah associated with (but not actually part of) the workshops and the competition, will not be open to anyone who does not have US citizenship. Please call John Gregory 256-824-6028, or Debora Nielson, 256-824.6800 to discuss this.

Anticipated Schedule of Events:
Day 1: Travel Day.  Welcome Meeting at 7pm.
Day 2: Tour Day. USLI Competition Discussion (evening).
Day 3: Workshop and Rocket Building.
Day 4: Launch Day.
Day 5: Travel Day.
NOTE: Transportation will be provided for the activities listed on days 2-4.

In order to visit Marshall Space Flight Center or ATK Space Systems, your driver's license number is required.  For those who sign up, more information will follow regarding directions, agenda, etc.

Airline Transportation Information:
Here are instructions to build a crate to transport your completed rocket on U.S. carrier airlines. The list of permitted and prohibited items on airlines can be found at the Transportation Safety Administration's website at tsa.gov.

If you agree to the above terms, click to go to the registration form.

--
Dr. John Gregory
Director, NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium The University of Alabama in Huntsville
301 Sparkman Drive, MSB 205
Huntsville, AL  35899-0001
Tel.  (256) 824-6028
Fax (256) 824-6061
gregoryj@uah.edu

Debora Nielson
NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
301 Sparkman Drive, MSB 205
Huntsville, AL  35899-0001
Tel.  (256) 824-6800
Fax (256) 824-6061
debn@eng.uah.edu

If you have questions regarding the USLI competition, please contact Al or Julie (contact information below).
 
Al Krause
Education Specialist (WTI)
OHC Contract- WILL Technology, Inc.
Academic Affairs Office HS30
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL 35812
256.961.1354
al.krause@nasa.gov
 
Julie Clift
Education Specialist (WTI)
Office of Human Capital Contract - WILL Technology, Inc.
NASA MSFC Academic Affairs Office
Mail Code: HS30
Huntsville, AL  35812
256.961.1334
julie.d.clift@nasa.gov