The NASA Student Launch Initiative (SLI) is an annual rocketry competition hosted by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It challenges university and high school teams to design, build, and launch a high-powered rocket carrying a functional scientific payload.
Teams follow a nine-month engineering design cycle, including proposals, critical design reviews (CDR), and extensive documentation. Rockets must reach a target altitude of 4,000 to 5,500 feet while deploying and recovering their payload safely. These payloads often include autonomous landing systems, environmental sensors, or robotic mechanisms.
SLI provides hands-on experience in aerospace engineering, while also requiring teams to engage in STEM outreach. For the Akronauts, NASA SLI was a crucial milestone, refining their engineering practices before shifting to higher-altitude projects. Their 2020 Project 22 rocket, flown for SLI, was particularly meaningful, honoring veterans and raising awareness for mental health issues.
Project 22 (2020)
The team’s final NASA SLI rocket, dedicated to raising awareness for veteran suicide prevention. It flew successfully and later became a permanent display in the University of Akron’s Veterans Lounge.
Astrea (2019)
Launched at NASA SLI 2019, securing 3rd place overall. It also earned 1st place in Outreach and 2nd place in Best-Looking Rocket.
Lazarus (2018)
Competed at NASA SLI but suffered a failed recovery due to ejection charge issues, resulting in a hard impact with the ground. However, the remnants of Lazarus led to the creation of Laus, a modified rocket built for Spaceport America Cup that same year.
Zaphod (2017)
Named after a character from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it won the Excellence in Design Award at NASA SLI. The payload was designed to keep five clay pigeons intact during flight, a challenge where some teams used eggs instead.
Beyond NASA SLI: Reaching for Greater Heights
While NASA SLI was instrumental in shaping the Akronauts’ engineering process, its 5,500-foot altitude ceiling eventually became a limiting factor. As the team’s ambitions grew, so did the need for higher-altitude challenges. By 2021, the team made the strategic decision to move beyond SLI, shifting focus to competitions like Spaceport America Cup and independent launches that allowed for higher performance rockets and more experimental propulsion systems.
This transition paved the way for the Emergence series, a multi-year project designed to push Akronauts-built rockets higher with each iteration, culminating in a future collegiate space shot. Additionally, the team expanded into liquid propulsion development, further aligning with industry trends.
Leaving SLI was not about stepping away from competition—it was about pushing boundaries. The Akronauts remain committed to innovation, altitude-breaking missions, and one day reaching space.