TALLAHASSEE — The Altitude Award, one of nine prizes offered at the NASA University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) competition, is given to the team that launches a rocket closest to one mile without going over.

The Florida A&M University Rocket, affectionately known as Blue Diamond, won first place as it reached 5,270 feet, a mere 10 feet from one mile. 

The competition, held at Bragg Farms in Toney, Ala., brought 53 teams from all over the U.S.

“I am very proud of the work the students did for this competition,” said Clement Allen, associate professor for the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and advisor for the team. “Each member of the team played a vital role.”

NASA’s USLI 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, or AGL. The project engages students in scientific research and real-world engineering processes with NASA engineers.

In addition to designing, building and testing the rocket, the students also developed an Android App to communicate with the rocket while it is in flight. The App could query the in-flight rocket from the ground for information such as velocity, temperature, pressure and humidity. The rocket’s onboard computer was programmed to send the information back to the App.

The DiamondBacks Rocket Team members were Ronald Benson, Jazzmine Bess, Marlena Ivory, Rodney Wilson, Anderson Louis and Dion Paul. Stacy Tinner also was a faculty advisor, and Terry Zimmerman served as the rocket mentor.

“I believe the team and I learned that hard work, commitment and perseverance can produce results that are beyond not only what others expect of you, but even what you expect of yourself,” said Benson.

For more information contact Clement Allen at 850-412-7359.

Photo: COURTESY OF FAMU

DiamondBacks Rocket Team