Continuing its three year tradition of donating oscilloscopes as major prizes in the NASA Student Launch Projects Challenge, Tektronix recently gifted the DPO2012B oscilloscopes to Vanderbilt University for winning the 2013 NASA Student Launch Program Best Payload Design, and to Tarleton University for winning the 2013 NASA Student Launch Program NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Payload Award.
The NASA Student Launch Projects challenges middle, high school and college students to design, build and launch a reusable rocket to one mile above ground level while carrying a scientific or engineering payload. Organized by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., 57 teams of engineering, math and science students participated in the annual challenge, while 21 middle and high school teams entered the non-competitive Student Launch Initiative, and 36 college and university teams competed in the University Student Launch Initiative.
"Like innovative technology companies such as Tektronix, NASA is committed to educating the next generation of scientists and engineers by giving them opportunities to step outside the classroom and take on real-world projects,” said Tammy Rowan, manager of Marshall's Academic Affairs Office. “Student Launch Projects accomplishes this through a rigorous set of requirements involving design, project review and budget management.”
“Nothing prepares students for a career in science or engineering like actually launching a rocket under the guidance of NASA scientists,” said David Farrell, General Manager of Mainstream Oscilloscopes, Tektronix. “The Student Launch Projects challenge is a highly effective and important way to train and mentor future generations and Tektronix is proud to have the opportunity to support this innovative program.”
This is the third consecutive year Vanderbilt has been selected for this award by NASA engineers, while 2013 was the first year that Tarleton University participated, making this achievement even more noteworthy.
More information:
- Details of the Vanderbilt team project can be viewed at: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/USLI/2013/
- Details of the Tarleton University project can be viewed at: http://www.tarleton.edu/COSTWEB/usli/index.html
- The NASA Student Launch Projects (SLP), visit: http://education.msfc.nasa.gov/slp.
Since publishing the above blog, Tektronix is currently offering discounts up to 89% on software application modules for qualifying oscilloscopes. Check out the details here and save away!