STUDENT LAUNCH INITIATIVE: THE NASA SLI IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL IN A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY THAT INVOLVES DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, TEST, AND LAUNCH OF A REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE AND SCIENCE-RELATED PAYLOAD. THE INITIATIVE IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ENGINEERING OR SCIENCE-RELATED FIELDS. TEAMING WITH ENGINEERS FROM GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND ACADEMIA, STUDENTS GET A HANDS-ON, INSIDE LOOK AT THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONS. THE SELECTED TEAMS WILL EACH BUILD AND LAUNCH A REUSABLE ROCKET CARRYING THE STUDENTS SCIENCE PAYLOAD THAT WILL LAUNCH IN THE SPRING OF 2008.