Aerospace Engineering Students Compete in NASA Student Launch
April 29, 2019
By Wichita Space Initiative
From WSU Today:
"Wichita State’s College of Engineering recently sent a team of four aerospace engineering
seniors to Huntsville, Alabama. where they successfully competed in the NASA Marshall
Space Flight Center’s Student Launch Initiative (SLI). Participants design, build,
and launch a rocket to complete a simulated inter-planetary mission.
The WSU team’s 37-lb., 10-ft. tall, rocket is reusable and includes an active drag
system for altitude control. Additionally, the rocket carries an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) that autonomously orients itself for takeoff, and delivers a simulated navigation
beacon to a designated location. Everything worked as the team planned in Huntsville
for the competition, and included students Bryan Cline, Skylar Dean, Jonathan Bowerman,
and Mike Foster.
“Just getting invited to NASA’s SLI is hard, teams from all over the U.S. vie to participate
and only the best go,” said Scott Miller, chair of the Aerospace Engineering Department.
“Completing all the work and meeting technical milestones is extremely challenging.”
Since August, the team completed three NASA design reviews, seven launches, and reached
almost 300 3rd-12th grade students via educational outreach events, Miller said.
The team was assisted by Steve Klausmeyer and Jonathan Mowery, both WSU aerospace
engineering alumni, as well as the faculty, providing advice, help, and funding. According
to Miller, the team of four accomplished more than other universities did with teams
of more than 20 students.
