On Saturday April 16, teams from 30 universities will be competing in the 2011 NASA University Launch Initiative in Toney, Alabama. Teams will attempt to launch a rocket to a height of at least a mile and return the vehicle safely to earth. Teams are judged not only on the flight of their rockets but also on their ability to document their design and analyze data from flight recorders on their rockets. The winning team will receive a $5,000 grant.
One of the 30 teams is the “Rocket Girls” from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. The team is made up of 16 women, most of whom are majoring in either aerospace or mechanical engineering. The team is advised by four faculty members, including Beth Todd, associate professor of mechanical engineering and Amy Lang, assistant professor of aerospace engineering and mechanics.