Due to COVID-19 pandemic impacts on team members, UTSA's 2020-2021 NSL project has been cancelled.

NASA Student Launch 2020-2021

October 2020–April 2021

The NASA Student Launch is a research-based, competitive, experiential exploration activity. It strives to provide relevant, cost-effective research and development of rocket propulsion.

During the eight-month project, College/University Division student teams design, build, and fly payloads or vehicle components that support Space Launch Systems. The UTSA student team is supported by CAMEE, the College of Sciences Student Success Center, and the College of Engineering Student Success Center.

Teams complete a series of design reviews that mirror the NASA engineering design lifecycle. Teams must successfully complete a Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, Flight Readiness Review, and Launch Readiness Review which include safety briefings, analysis of vehicle and payload systems, and flight test data.

Each team must pass a review to progress to a subsequent review. Teams present their PDR, CDR, and FRR to a review panel of scientists, engineers, technicians, and educators via video teleconference. Review panel members, Range Safety Officer, and Subject Matter Experts provide feedback and ask questions in order to increase the fidelity between the team's work and research objectives, and will score each College/University Division team.

Project Deliverables

A reusable rocket with required payload system ready for official launch.
A scale model of the rocket design must be flown during the PDR or CDR milestones and the flight data reported in the CDR.
A full-scale Vehicle Demonstration Flight and Payload Demonstration Flight must be flown and flight data reported in the FRR and/or FRR Addendum.
A team social media presence established and maintained/updated throughout the project year.
Reports, PDF slideshows, and Milestone Review Flysheets completed and submitted to the Student Launch Projects management team by due dates.
Electronic copies of the STEM Engagement form(s) submitted after proposal acceptance, prior to FRR, and within two weeks of the STEM engagement event.
Completion of PDR, CDR, FRR, FRR addendum (if applicable), LRR, and PLAR.

Timeline

Click here to see the NASA Student Launch timeline. (dates are subject to change)

Aug 19, 2020	Request for Proposal (RFP) released
Sep 21, 2020	Electronic copy of completed proposal due to project office by 3 p.m. CDT
Oct 1, 2020	Awarded proposals announced
Oct 7, 2020	Kickoff and PDR Q&A
Oct 21, 2020	Team social media presence established Social media handle list sent to project office by 8 a.m. CDT
Nov 2, 2020	PDR report, presentation slides, and flysheet submitted to NASA management team by 8:00 a.m. CST
Nov 3-22, 2020	PDR video teleconferences
Nov 23, 2020	CDR Q&A
Jan 4, 2021	Subscale Flight deadline CDR report, presentation slides, and flysheet submitted to NASA project management team by 8:00 a.m. CST
Jan 7-26, 2021	CDR video teleconferences
Jan 27, 2021	FRR Q&A
Mar 8, 2021	VDF deadline
Mar 11-29, 2021	FRR video teleconferences
Mar 29, 2021	Payload Demonstration Flight and Vehicle Demonstration Re-flight deadlines Teams completing additional Payload Demonstration Flights and Vehicle Demonstration Re-flights only: FRR Addendum submitted to NASA project management team by 8:00 a.m. CDT
Mar 30, 2021	Launch window opens for teams not traveling to Launch Week PLAR must be submitted within 14 days of launch
Mar 31, 2021	Launch Week Q&A
Apr 7, 2021	Teams travel to Huntsville, AL OPTIONAL: LRR for teams arriving early
Apr 8, 2021	Official Launch Week Kickoff, LRRs, Launch Week activities
Apr 9, 2021	Launch Week activities
Apr 10, 2021	Launch Day and Awards Ceremony
Apr 11, 2021	Backup Launch Day
Apr 27, 2021	Teams travelling to Launch Week: PLAR submitted to NASA project management team by 8:00 a.m. CDT

UTSA Team

Carolyn Alvarado (Freshman, Physics) – Outreach and Social Media Team Leader
Kate Benoit (Sophomore, Geology) – Safety, Social Media
Dillon Emmele (Senior, Mathematics) – Rocket and Payload Design, Reports
Evelyn Fernandez (Freshman, Biomedical Engineering) – Lead Safety Officer, Reports
Madeline Hickman (Freshman, Mechanical Engineering) –- Team Leader, Rocket and Payload Design, Reports
Jasmyn Johnson (Junior, Physics) – Rocket and Payload Design, Social Media
Adolfo Santa Fe Duenas (Doctoral, Physics) – Rocket and Payload Design
Daniel Wood (Senior, Physics) – Rocket and Payload Design, Reports