The Lee College of Engineering’s 49er Rocketry Team recently placed second in the nation in the 2018 NASA Student Launch competition, the highest finish in the team’s history.
First place went to Vanderbilt University’s Aerospace Design Lab team, its fourth win in the past five years.
“This year’s 49er Rocketry Team showed tremendous work ethic, initiative and attention to detail in its design, documentation and performance at the NASA Student Launch competition,” said Chris Vermillion, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science and faculty mentor for the team. “I am extremely proud of the team for continuing the very strong legacy of 49er rocketry."
This year’s 49er Rocketry Team student members were Jennifer Adams, Tijon Clark, Brandon Crotty, Taylor Forte, Jose Giacopini, Andrew Hiller, Ashton Johnston, Pedro Regalado Vera, Dallas Solomon and Micheal Stokes.
Student Launch is NASA’s annual competition that challenges competing student teams to propose, design, build and test a reusable rocket that flies to one mile in altitude, deploys a recovery system and returns safely to the ground, while carrying a payload of scientific or engineering value. The teams compete in 10 categories ranging from payload design to educational engagement.
The 49ers have fielded six rocket teams in the past seven years, and almost all have placed in the top 10 overall. For 2018, the team’s individual results included:
- First place - Project Documentation and Presentation
- Second Place – Best Payload
- Second Place – Best Looking Rocket
- Second Place – Safety
“Documentation and presentation is one of the most important categories,” said team mentor and Ph.D. student Jerry Dahlberg. “The team spent a lot of time perfecting their documentation and could explain all their design decisions in minute detail. This was very important to the judges and earned the team a lot of points.”
Read the complete story, which includes a photo gallery and videos, on the Lee College website.