StellarXplorers National Finalists Announced

ARLINGTON, Va., March 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association (AFA) announced today the National Finalist teams invited to the StellarXplorers III National Finals, April 5-9, 2017.  Teams will travel all-expenses-paid to Colorado to compete for the National Championship title.  10 teams advanced through competitive qualification rounds and represent schools and other youth groups from Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Oregon, Texas, and Germany.  A full list of the National Finalists can be found here.

"AFA is proud to be producing this important youth program.  StellarXplorers is succeeding in attracting students to education and careers in aerospace and other technical fields," said Larry Spencer, AFA National President.  The National Finalist teams are the best of the best, and should take great pride in earning their way to this final competition."

The StellarXplorers III competition season began in October 2016 with 131 teams registered from 30 states and two overseas locations, nearly a 400% increase from the previous year, with each team consisting of two to six students.  At this year's National Finals Competition, teams will compete to define orbits, spacecraft components, and launch vehicles to meet a set of mission requirements.  The teams will also brief an expert panel on their work as part of their overall score.

"We are thrilled to see both returning teams and new teams qualify for National Finals," said Stephen K Gourley, StellarXplorers Director.  "This year, again, the program has attracted a diverse set of participants.  We need people of every stripe to compose our technical workforce and keep the US strong.  We are proud to do our part to further this objective."

StellarXplorers, an education initiative established by AFA, is a space system engineering competition designed to inspire students toward futures in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  Program sponsors include U.S. Air Force and DoD STEM Programs, United Launch Alliance, Orbital ATK, Blue Origin, Kratos Defense,           

SpaceX, and Lockheed Martin, supported by its Educational Alliance of Analytical Graphics, Inc, the Space Foundation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Coyote Enterprises.

To learn more about this program, please visit AFA's StellarXplorers website  www.StellarXplorers.org.

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage.

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SOURCE Air Force Association

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