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Student LaunchSelected Oct 1, 2026

Project Turbulentus

NASA's 9‑month challenge to design, build, test, and launch a high‑power rocket with a working payload. We were selected on October 1, 2026.

Target apogee
5,009 ftwindow: 4,000–6,000 ft
Vehicle height
107 in
Body diameter
4 in
Airframe
Fiberglass and carbon fiber composite, made in-house
Team
24 students3 subteams: vehicle, avionics and recovery, payload

Preliminary design, updated after each review.

This year's mission

After landing, the payload has to find a large target on its own, photograph it, and work out how far away it is, using only onboard sensors. No GPS.

Side-profile drawing of the Project Turbulentus rocket107 in overall, 4 in diameter. Target apogee 5,009 ft, inside a 4,000 to 6,000 ft window.107 inØ 4 in5,009 fttarget apogee6,000 ftwindow4,000 ftAMC · Project Turbulentus24 students · 3 subteamsRev A · Proposal

Road to Huntsville

  1. ProposalDone
  2. SelectedDone
  3. Preliminary Design ReviewNext
  4. Critical Design ReviewUpcoming
  5. Flight Readiness ReviewUpcoming
  6. Launch weekUpcoming

Subteams

  • VehicleDesigns and builds the airframe, including the composite body tubes we make in-house.
  • Avionics and recoveryBuilds the flight electronics and the system that brings the rocket back down safely.
  • PayloadBuilds the payload that has to find the target, photograph it, and measure how far away it is after landing.

Want to build a rocket with us?

Come to a meeting