First Nations Launch

High-Power Rocket Competition

April 25–27, 2025

Register and apply!

important Dates

• Announcement of Opportunity: September 1, 2024
• Launch 2 Learn Registration (Level 1 Rocket Certification Workshop @ Carthage College Nov. 2-3, 2024) w/Non-Binding Notice of Intent (NOI) to Compete Due: September 25, 2024
• Early Bird Gateway, Moon, and Mars Non-Binding NOI to Compete Due: October 24, 2024
• Gateway Challenge Notice of Intent to Compete Due: December 9, 2024

 

CHALLENGE DOCUMENTS

Advisor’s (Admin) Handbook: Will be released soon
Gateway Handbook: Will be released soon
Moon Handbook: Will be released soon
Mars Handbook: Will be released soon

About the Program

NASA’s Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) is pleased to announce the 16th Annual First Nations Launch (FNL) National Rocket Competition. This competition is an opportunity for students attending a Tribal College or University (TCU), a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI), or who are active members of an American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) collegiate chapter at a non-TCU/NASNTI university/college to design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket to be launched at a competition at the Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Kansasville, WI.

Purpose

The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium First Nations Launch competition offers Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI), as well as active American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) collegiate chapters the opportunity to demonstrate engineering and design skills through direct application in high-power rocketry. The competition requires teams of undergraduate students to conceive, design, fabricate, and compete with high-power rockets. FNL is a ‘First Step’ experience designed for students with no prior experience working with high-powered rockets. Rocket motors and dimensions are restricted by competition parameters so that the knowledge, creativity, and imagination of the students are challenged. The end result is a great aerospace learning experience unique to the Native American communities.

It is the purpose of this Announcement of Opportunity to support the innovative, visionary projects that are student-led and designed to fully realize WSGC’s goal of assisting in training the next generation of aerospace professionals.

Advisor’s Handbook: Will be released soon

Equipment/Reimbursable funds provided by WSGC

Competition Rocket Motor	One (1) motor per team will be provided per the competition parameters. WSGC also provides ejection charges and a motor casing for competition flights. NOTE: Motor selection deadline: February 17, 2025
Project/Travel Award	Reimbursed up to $4000 for project and travel expenses (U.S. teams only). Teams traveling more than 1000 miles to Carthage College may request additional travel funds. Requests should be made at time of award acceptance. WSGC provides the following meals: Friday breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner Teams are responsible for their own transportation to and from the competition locations.   NOTE: Reimbursement deadlines are March 3 and May 12, 2025
Learning Resources	Each team will receive a low-power rocket for demonstration flight requirements. Each new school registered to compete will receive two reference resources: Model Rocket Design and Construction Third Edition and Modern High-Power Rocketry 2.
Rocket Certification	Advisors, co-advisors, and students may obtain their Tripoli High-power Rocketry Certification through an in-person or virtual Launch 2 Learn (L2L) rocket certification workshop. Each team is eligible to send up to 3 individuals (Advisor/Co-advisor, Team Lead, and Team Member) to the workshop. Participants receive a Level 1 Rocket Kit, Motor, and Level 1 Tripoli Rocketry Association Certification upon a successful flight. WSGC provides travel funds for individuals attending the in-person workshop and/or travel funds to attend a local launch site event. *Note: - A Notice of Intent to Compete must be submitted in order to be eligible for the November in-person workshop at Carthage College. - Space is limited.  Universities/colleges participating in the competition for the first time will be given priority consideration. https://spacegrant.carthage.edu/first-nations-launch/launch-2-learn-rocket-certification-workshop/
Canadian Teams	We are excited to welcome our Canadian First Nations Teams into the FNL Competition. Note that due to restrictions on our competition funding, we are unable to reimburse or directly award any monetary prizes to participating Canadian Teams.

Contact Us

Interested students and/or faculty members with questions or seeking help in getting started are highly encouraged to contact:

• Frank Nobile (Maxq3@aol.com), FNL Technical Advisor, Tripoli Rocketry Association Wisconsin
• Mark Abotossaway (mark.a.abotossaway@gmail.com), FNL Project Assistant (Mars focus), Advisor Liaison and Alumni
• Brittany Nez (brittanyanez4@gmail.com), FNL Project Assistant (Moon focus) and Alumni
• Bob Justus (bob@mhbofni.com), Tripoli Rocketry Association Illinois
• A rocket association near them
• Or a representative at a local Tripoli Prefecture.

 

Please direct questions about the First Nations Launch program to:

FNL Program Office
Carthage College
2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: 262-551-6054
Email: fnl@carthage.edu

Rob Cannon
FNL Program Manager
Carthage College
2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: 262-551-5727
Email: rcannon@carthage.edu

Christine Bolz
FNL Program Director and WSGC Assistant Director
Carthage College
2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: 262-551-5915
Email: cbolz@carthage.edu

This funding opportunity is made available for the pursuit of space-related research and/or activities through the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program: NASA Education Cooperative Agreement #80NSSC20M0123. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this award is 43.008. All awardees are subject to the terms of the prime award. The material contained in this document is based upon work supported by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant or cooperative agreement. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA.

All awards are fully competitive awards of opportunity in which applications are reviewed by the WSGC Technical Advisory Panel and other experts as needed. Awards are made by the Assistant Director based on recommendations from the WSGC Technical Advisory Panel.

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