The US space agency NASA will host the 15th annual NASA Student Launch event on April 10-10 near the NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Students were challenged to make and design their own rockets that address the research needs for different NASA missions.

More than 30 high school, college and university teams will launch their respective student-built rockets in the event at Bragg Farms in Toney.

The high school student teams will launch their rockets to an altitude of one mile, install onboard science experiments and land safely using a system of recovery parachutes. The university and college teams will participate in either the Mini-Mars Ascent Vehicle (Mini-MAV) or the Maxi-Mars Ascent Vehicle (Maxi-MAV) divisions.

Students are required to use a robotic system to autonomously load a payload into their rocket, launch to half a mile and eject the payload during descent. Mini MAV launches will begin at 7:30 am and run until completed April 11.

NASA said that the Maxi-MAV teams will have to meet more autonomy requirements before launching to a half mile. They will compete for a share of $50,000 of the prize money. The launches will begin at 10 a. m. CDT and will run until approximately 5 pm on April 10.

Students will be asked to participate in a Rocket Fair at Marshall's Activities Building 4316 on April 9, from 11 am to 1 pm. In order to receive valuable feedback from engineers and team members from NASA and Student Launch corporate sponsor Orbital ATK, they will give their own technical presentations.

The research shared by student teams in the event may be used to design and develop future NASA projects.