For the first time in its 26 years the SLI launch was moved up a day instead of slipping one. The weather forecast for Saturday looked ominous with Sunday likely to have a muddy field so NASA did what it has never done with the program and opted to fly early. The Friday sky was great and allowed a comfortable launch operation after the rescheduling scramble and got all the rockets launched in two rounds. The Friday Rocket Fair unfortunately was canceled completely as it could not be swapped back a day at the Civic Center. Saturday’s weather turned out to be unsettled but it did not rain.

Given that Student Launch and all NASA STEM operations were defunded last year it’s a wonder the program survived, but a lean version of it did. The thirty teams of colleges and high schools who could be accepted benefited as always from the rocketry experience. NAR again provided the range equipment and crew, review and inspection teams and mentoring expertise with HARA members offering local section support.