Purchase Order NNM12AA07P

NASA STUDENT LAUNCH INITIATIVE 2011 - 2012. THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT THE NASA MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER (MSFC) WILL PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS AND INFORMAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SPONSOR THE NASA STUDENT LAUNCH INITIATIVE (SLI) ROCKET AND PAYLOAD TEAMS DURING ACADEMIC YEAR 2011 2012. 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 2012. SLI IS A ROCKET AND PAYLOAD-BUILDING CHALLENGE DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. IT REQUIRES AN 8-MONTH COMMITMENT TO DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, TEST, LAUNCH, AND RECOVER SUCCESSFULLY A REUSABLE ROCKET AND SCIENCE PAYLOAD. THE INITIATIVE IS MORE THAN DESIGNING AND BUILDING A ROCKET FROM A COMMERCIAL KIT. IT INVOLVES DIVERSE ASPECTS, SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: SCHEDULING, PURCHASING, PERFORMING CALCULATIONS, FINANCING THE PROJECT, COORDINATING LOGISTICS, ARRANGING PRESS COVERAGE, EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT, WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT, AND DOCUMENTING IMPACT MADE ON EDUCATION THROUGH REPORTS AND DESIGN REVIEWS. TEAMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVOLVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGLISH, JOURNALISM, AND ART.