Team Osceola Soars to 2nd Place

Gail Robbins

Team Osceola, comprised of six FSU Panama City electrical engineering students, soared to 2nd place overall in the altitude competition during the final launch events of the 2012 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) University Student Launch Initiative (USLI).  The annual competition was held in Toney, Alabama on April 20-22. 

Members of Team Osceola will be recognized during the 30th Anniversary Alumni Luncheon that will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 11:30 a.m. in the Holley Academic Center.  The Alumni Luncheon is the first of several events planned in 2012 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of FSU Panama City. The program will be from 12:00 noon to 12:30 p.m.  FSU Panama City Dean Ken Shaw and members of Team Osceola will be available to media following the program.

Team Osceola competed against 41 other universities from across the nation, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rensselaer Polytechnic University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Alabama and University of Florida. NASA University Student Launch Initiative is a competition that challenges university-level students to design, build, and launch a reusable rocket with a scientific or engineering payload to one mile above ground level. 

On Sunday, April 22, Team Osceola had a near perfect launch with their rocket topping out at 5,237 feet, just 43 less than the one mile (5,280 feet) above ground level mark, one of the closest in NASA USLI history. Last year’s winner peaked at 5,210 feet.  This year’s winner was the computer science department at FAMU, with a height of 5,270 feet, the closest in USLI history.

Overall Student Launch Project winners will be announced May 18.  Among awards still to be announced are Overall Project Award, Best Rookie Team Award, Best Vehicle Design and Best Payload Design.  Additional information about the USLI can be obtained at the following web link:

http://www.nasa.gov/

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