2023-2024 Teams

University Student Launch Initiative – College/University Division

• Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas
• Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
• Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio
• Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
• Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University – Florida State University College of Engineering, Tallahassee, Florida
• Florida State University, Panama City, Panama City, Florida
• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
• Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas
• LeTourneau University, Longview, Texas
• New York University, Brooklyn, New York
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
• Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana
• Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
• Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
• The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama
• The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, North Carolina
• University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
• The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
• United States Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, Colorado
• United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
• United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
• University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
• University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
• University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
• University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
• University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina
• University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
• University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
• University of Portland, Portland, Oregon
• University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
• University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
• Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia
• Washington State University Everett, Everett, Washington
• Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

Student Launch Initiative – Middle and High School Division

• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Orange County Section, Irvine, California
• Carmel Valley STEM Youth, San Diego, California
• Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• DuPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
• Explorer Post 1010, Rockville, Maryland
• First Baptist Church of Manchester, Manchester, Connecticut
• Hardin Valley Academy, Knoxville, Tennessee
• Harmony Science Academy, El Paso, Texas
• Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
• Maharishi School, Fairfield, Iowa
• Morris County 4-H, Califon, New Jersey
• Newark Memorial High School, Newark, California
• Notre Dame Academy High School, Los Angeles, California
• Plantation High School, Plantation, Florida
• Seabrook Intermediate School, League City, Texas
• Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
• St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Akron, Ohio
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia
• University School, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
• Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago, Illinois
• Young Engineers in Action, La Palma, California

2024 Overall Winners

NASA Student Launch Overall Winner

• University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

NASA Student Launch 2nd Place Winner

• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

2024 Top 5 Finishing

1. University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
2. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
3. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina
4. University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida
5. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

2024 Overall Winners

Rookie Award

Awarded to the top overall rookie team

College/University Division:

• University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Judges’ Choice Award

Awarded to the middle or high school team that a panel of judges determined has the most creative payload, best design, and workmanship of its rocket

Middle/High School Division:

• 1^st Place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• 2^nd Place: Young Engineers in Action, LaPalma, California
• 3^rd Place: First Baptist Church of Manchester, Connecticut

AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Award

Awarded to the team with the most creative, innovative, and safety-conscious overall rocket design

College/University Division:

• 1^st Place: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
• 2^nd Place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina
• 3^rd Place: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Innovative Payload Award

Awarded to the team with the most creative and innovative payload design while maximizing safety and science value

College/University Division:

• 1^st Place: University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
• 2^nd Place: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
• 3^rd Place: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Safety Award

Awarded to the team that most successfully maximized safety and science value in its design

College/University Division:

• 1^st Place: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
• 2^nd Place: University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida
• 3^rd Place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina

Project Review Award

Awarded to the team with the best combination of written reviews and formal presentations

College/University Division:

• University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida

STEM Engagement Award

Awarded to the team that best informed others about rocketry and other space-related topics

College/University Division:

• 1^st Place: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
• 2^nd Place: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina
• 3^rd Place: New York University, Brooklyn, New York

Middle/High School Division:

• 1^st Place: Notre Dame Academy High School, Los Angeles, California
• 2^nd Place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• 3^rd Place: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia

Altitude Award

Awarded to the team that comes closest to its declared target altitude as recorded in their Flight Readiness Review

College/University Division:

• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Middle/High School Division:

• Morris County 4-H, Califon, New Jersey

3D Printing Award

Awarded to the student team with the best consideration, design, and implementation in regard to 3D printing of rocket and payload

College/University Division:

• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Middle/High School Division:

• First Baptist Church of Manchester, Connecticut

Social Media Award

Awarded to the student team that has the most active and creative social media presence throughout the project year

College/University Division:

• University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Middle/High School Division:

• Newark Memorial High School, Newark, California

Best-Looking Rocket Award

Awarded to the team that is judged by their peers to have had the best-looking rocket

College/University Division:

• New York University, Brooklyn, New York

Middle/High School Division:

• Notre Dame Academy High School, Los Angeles, California

Service Academy Award

Awarded to the highest finishing service academy

College/University Division:

• United States Air Force Academy, Colorado

Vehicle Design Award

Awarded to the team with the most creative and innovative overall vehicle design while maximizing safety and efficiency

Middle/High School Division:

• 1^st Place: First Baptist Church of Manchester, Connecticut
• 2^nd Place: Explorer Post 1010, Rockville, Maryland
• 3^rd Place: Plantation High School, Plantation, Florida

Payload Design Award

Awarded to the team with the most creative and innovative payload design while maximizing safety and science value.

Middle/High School Division:

• 1^st Place: Young Engineers in Action, LaPalma, California
• 2^nd Place: Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• 3^rd Place: Spring Grove Area High School, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania