[NASA HQ News] NASA Names Winners of 2023 Student Rocket Launch Competition

	June 06, 2023  RELEASE 23-066 NASA Names Winners of 2023 Student Rocket Launch Competition dsc_4255.jpg Student teams ready their rockets for launch during NASA's Student Launch competition near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, April 15. Credits: NASA/Charles Beason NASA announced Tuesday the University of Alabama in Huntsville is the overall winner of the agency's 2023 Student Launch challenge. More than 800 students from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico launched high-powered, amateur rockets April 15, near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of the culminating event for the agency's annual Student Launch challenge. For nine months prior, teams of middle school, high school, college, and university students were tasked to design, build, and launch a rocket and scientific payload to an altitude between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, while making a successful landing and executing a scientific or engineering payload mission. "Our students share unique perspectives and design innovative technologies to address real-world difficulties of space exploration," said Kevin McGhaw, director of NASA's Office of STEM Engagement – Southeast Region. "As NASA celebrates its 23rd year of Student Launch, we are proud to help develop the next generation of skilled engineers and explorers capable of supporting NASA's Artemis missions." The complete list of award winners are as follows:   Students from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, carry their rocket to the launch pad during NASA's 2023 Student Launch competition near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, April 15. Credits: NASA/Charles Beason 2023 Overall Winners First place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Second place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Third place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 3D Printing Award: College Level: First place: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa   Middle/High School Level: First place: East Aurora High School, East Aurora, New York Altitude Award:  College Level:  First place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee Second place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Middle/High School Level:   First place: Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania Second place: Camas High School, Camas, Washington Third place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California Best-Looking Rocket Award:  College Level: First place: North Carolina State University, Raleigh Second place: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg Third place: Auburn University, Alabama   Middle/High School Level: First place: Cedar Falls High School, Iowa Second place: Yamhill Carlton High School, Yamhill, Oregon Third place: Boy Scouts Troop 17, Charlottesville, Virginia American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Reusable Launch Vehicle Innovative Payload Award: College Level: First place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Second place: Washington University in St. Louis Third place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Judges' Choice Award: Middle/High School Level: First place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa  Second place: Seabrook Intermediate School, Seabrook, Texas Third place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California  Project Review Award:  College Level:  First place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Second place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee   Third place: University of Notre Dame, Indiana AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Award:  College Level:  First place: New York University, New York Second place: Washington University in St. Louis Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville AIAA Rookie Award: College Level: First place: United States Military Academy, West Point, New York Second place: Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas Third place: University of Central Florida, Orlando Safety Award: College Level: First place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte Second place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Third place: University of Notre Dame, Indiana Social Media Award:  College Level:  First place: University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus Second place: North Carolina State University, Raleigh Third place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte   Middle/High School Level: First place: Morris County 4-H Rocketry Club, Morris County, New Jersey Second place: East Aurora High School, East Aurora, New York Third place: Boy Scouts Troop 17, Charlottesville, Virginia STEM Engagement Award: College Level: First place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee Second place: University of Notre Dame, Indiana Third place: University of Alabama in Huntsville   Middle/High School Level: First place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa Second place: MATHmania Robotics, Mission Viejo, California Third place: Camas High School, Camas, Washington Service Academy Award: First place: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Vehicle Design Award: Middle/High School Level: First place: Yamhill Carlton Rocketry, Yamhill, Oregon Second place: Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania Third place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa Payload Design Award:  Middle/High School Level: First place: Portland Rocketry, Portland, Oregon Second place: Yamhill Carlton Rocketry, Yamhill, Oregon Third place: Seabrook Intermediate School, Seabrook, Texas   Students from New York University, in the Bronx, showcase their rocket during NASA's annual Rocket Fair April 13, near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Credits: NASA/Charles Beason Student Launch is one of NASA's nine Artemis Student Challenges, activities which connect student ingenuity with NASA's work returning to the Moon under Artemis in preparation for human exploration of Mars. "Students are required to meet complex requirements and high expectations, literally," said Fred Kepner, an education program specialist and activity lead for Student Launch at Marshall. "Student Launch is an authentic learning experience – one offering students experience working through the same processes NASA and our partners use for safety and quality control of space missions." Marshall hosts Student Launch with management support provided by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement - Southeast Region. Funding is provided, in part, by NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate and NASA's Next Gen STEM project. Additional support is provided by Northrup Grumman, National Space Club Huntsville, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Association of Rocketry, Relativity Space, Bastion Technologies, and Siemens Digital Industries Software. Replays of this launch event and award ceremony are available on NASA's Marshall YouTube and the Student Launch Facebook page. For more information about the Student Launch challenge, visit:   https://go.nasa.gov/2HWL80t -end-
	Press Contacts Katherine Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1288 katherine.m.brown@nasa.gov Christopher Blair NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034 christopher.e.blair@nasa.gov
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