Students at Fredericksburg High School in Fredericksburg, Texas, are preparing to launch a rocket they designed and built - not a model, but a real rocket - thanks in part to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The students are enrolled in the school's two-year Aeroscience Program, designed to teach engineering, propulsion and aerodynamics to high school students. The highlight of the course is the design, construction and launching of a rocket capable of carrying a 35-pound payload.
In support of the advanced curriculum, the Marshall Center has donated for the project two key elements the students don't have the equipment to build themselves, a rocket motor fuel grain and nozzle.
"As NASA's lead center for propulsion, we were delighted to support this educational project," said Marshall Center Director Art Stephenson. "We recognize that the best way to get young people excited about rockets, space and microgravity research is through hands-on programs like Fredericksburg's."
The 410-pound rocket, scheduled to launch Aug. 4 from the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, N.M., is called Redbird 9-H. "Red" is one of the school's colors, this is the program's ninth rocket, and "H" stands for the hybrid engine that will propel it. A hybrid engine is one fueled by solid fuel and liquid oxidizer.
The Redbird 9-H is designed to reach an altitude of 100,000 feet and carry a test payload for aerospace engineering students at the University of Texas at Austin.
"Last summer we proved we could launch, and this summer we're out to prove we can carry and deploy an experiment," said Brett Williams, creator of the Aeroscience Program. "This is a proof-of-concept launch, and if all goes well, next year's students will build and launch the rocket containing the actual experiment.
"Marshall's willingness to partner with us by providing hardware is a first for us," Williams added. "I believe NASA's support and recognition of their efforts encourages the students to excel."
Williams said his program's goal is to prepare students to excel in college. But ultimately, he hopes to develop a program that will help universities inexpensively reach the edge of space for research by using his student-built sounding rockets.
NASA uses its unique resources, whenever possible, to support educational excellence, since education is a key element in the Agency's overall mission.
The space agency participates in educational outreach programs through centers around the country. More information on educational opportunities with the Marshall Center can be found at: http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/education
Information about NASA's education program can be found at: http://education.nasa.gov