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NASA SLI

Washington State's One-and-Only NASA Highschool Student Launch Team

WHAT IS NASA SLI ? The NASA Student Launch Initiative (SLI) is a national competition focused on research-based, competitive, and experiential exploration challenges. Teams design and build innovative rockets and payloads to successfully complete tasks set by NASA each year. Following a competitive proposal selection process, teams participate in a series of design reviews with a NASA review panel that reflect the NASA engineering lifecycle.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN SLI ? Teams made up of students in grades 6-12 from both formal and informal educational institutions are eligible to participate in SLI. To qualify, teams must achieve a top placement in one of the following rocketry competitions:
American Rocketry Challenge: Top 25 placement in finals
Rockets For Schools: Top 5 placement in Class II division
Each team must also have an adult advisor and an experienced high-powered rocketry mentor.

Our Team Lead
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Veena Vijay Team Lead
Team Members
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Mathew
Safety Officer
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Abhi
Payload Co-Lead
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Aadi
Payload Co-Lead
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Aryav
Payload Co-Lead
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Conner
Electronics
Our Mentors
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Peter
Educator
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Pommert
Mentor
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Jack
Mentor
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Vijay
Advisor

Rocketry in Motion

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Watch SmilingTree NASA SLI Team's Ejection Charge test!
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Watch SmilingTree NASA SLI Team's Subscale Flight!
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Watch SmilingTree NASA SLI Team's Vehicle Demonstration Flight (VDF) #1 @ Pasco Washington
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Watch SmilingTree NASA SLI Team's Vehicle Demonstration Flight (VDF) #1 - Recovery @ Pasco Washington
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Watch SmilingTree NASA SLI Team's Vehicle Demonstration Flight (VDF) #2 @ Pasco Washington
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Watch SmilingTree NASA SLI Team's Subscale Flight with Safety Protocols
NASA SLI 2025

Our Journey with NASA SLI

May 2024 - TARC Top 25 Finalists

TARC Top 25 Finalists, qualifying for NASA SLI.

September 2024

Submitted RFP and became the only WA high school team to qualify.

July 2024

Received NASA SLI RFP Request, marking our official entry.

November 2024

Completed PDR, subscale launch, and design validation.



December 2024

Conducted full-scale ejection charge test.

February 2025

Full-scale rocket launch successfully executed.

January 2025

Completed Critical Design Review (CDR).

March 2025

Flight Readiness Review (FRR) in progress.

Would you like to learn more about the SmilingTree Rocketry club?

Mail us

contact@smilingtree.org