Team 508

Project Overview

The objective of our team was to design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket to compete in NASA’s annual Student Launch Challenge. The first goal was to create a new rocket design that emphasized recovery reliability and had the ability to be fully disassembled for inspection and repairing purposes. The second goal was to create better means of testing the rocket’s subsystems on the ground. The final product was Uncertainty, this year’s full-scale rocket, which flew 4800ft and had a successful recovery. The rocket has a 2-stage recovery system that allows the rocket to break apart into three sections and deploy 2 parachutes to slow its descent to the ground. By removing an inch off the rocket’s diameter compared to last year’s design, from 6in to 5in, the total weight of the rocket decreased from 55lbs to 45.4lbs; a 17.5% reduction. Another significant change was the use of screws to attach structural components to the body tube rather than the use of epoxy. The use of screws made the rocket fully deconstructable and allowed stronger materials, like aluminum, to be used for structural components. Advances in parachute packing also resulted in 100% parachute deployment reliability during launch tests. The creation of systems such as a custom pop-test rig and an avionics bay vibration chamber allowed the team to confidently test the rocket’s subsystems. The rocket is also responsible for safely carrying the payload team’s project during flight. Our team designed attachment points in the nosecone and worked with the payload team to protect sensitive electronics onboard. This team is part of AIAA, a nationally recognized aerospace association. Our team within AIAA, the Zenith Program, allows undergraduate students to get first-hand experience in rocket design and fabrication; and is the backbone of this project.