Rocketry Sub-teams

Our Team

To aid in developing an entry that meets all necessary requirements and displays high quality and innovation, the rocketry team is split into the following subsystem teams:

  • Aerodynamics

    The Aerodynamics team is responsible for performing drag and dynamic stability analysis on the rocket flight dynamics across a wide range of subsonic and supersonic velocities.  By using CFD simulations, they optimize the design of the rocket's components such as the nosecone, fins, and transition. The aim is to use CFD as a tool to not only optimize the rocket, but also predict the amount of the drag on the rocket. Using this drag data, our simulations team can determine how much ballast is required to reach exactly 30,000 feet.

  • Avionics

    The Avionics team is responsible for the electronic systems on board the rocket, for data logging, parachute deployment, footage capture, tracking, and recovery. The team develops custom designed solutions to approach many of these tasks. Avionics handles all the electronics systems on board the rocket. They look after data logging, capturing on-board camera footage, communications to the ground, and most importantly detecting when we need to deploy our parachutes.

  • Flight Simulations

    The Flight Simulations team's responsibility is to simulate the predicted launch and flight path of the rocket prior to take-off to know that we are ensuring the best conditions for our flight. Their goal is to predict how our rocket will behave during launch, and ensure correct apogee, stability, and other features. Using these predictions, they can gain insight into what the optimal conditions for launch are.

  • Payload

    The payload team develops an experimental scientific payload that rides atop the competition rocket to an altitude of 30,000 feet. Each year the team develops a new payload, so the work undertaken by this team will consist of concept design, prototyping, and flight tests onboard prototype competition rockets. It will fly in the 2024 SAC rocket.

  • Structures

    The Structures team is responsible for the detailed design and manufacture of the rocket's airframe and internal structures. Structures work includes finding innovative manufacturing techniques and optimizing the rocket's strength while minimizing weight. The rocket is designed and manufactured by the structures team to withstand intense vibrations and oscillations during flight.

  • Recovery

    The recovery team is responsible for delivering the rocket safely to the ground after reaching its target altitude. Over the last competition cycle, the team developed an in-house CO2 ejection system that blows open the drogue and main parachute bays at the correct heights above the ground. The team also undertook research and development on parachute technology, including separation, release and descent testing. For the next competition, the team will focus on refining and testing the CO2 ejection system, as well as developing new hardware to support new separation configurations.

  • Propulsion

    The Propulsion team is currently in the design phase of a student-researched- and-developed (SRAD) hybrid rocket engine. 2022 saw small-scale tests and propellant composition testing, and this year the full-scale system has begun development and testing.

  • Operations and Logistics

    The Operations team is responsible for coordinating the other sub-teams projects, obtain the necessary information, resources, people and funding to be completed as planned. They make competing at the Spaceport America Cup possible. The other tasks include managing project funds and maintaining budgets;  coordinating sponsorships with new and existing partners and liaising with the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology (FEIT) regarding operational matters. The Operations team also manages marketing and social media accounts for onboarding and events.