About us

Our team is selectively formed every year with one goal in mind - design, analyze, test, and build a rocket that competes at the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA). We divide our workload over eight sub-teams in order to fully manage the responsibilities of assembling a rocket. Although funded in part by the university, we require assistance from other sponsors in order to create the parts required for our rockets. Unlike most rocketry teams, we craft everything down to the outer shell of the rocket from our very own design labs at Texas A&M University. Our members are dedicated, and each student is expected to spend roughly 20 hours per week on activities related to the organization.

Sub-teams

The Sounding Rocketry Team emphasizes both student leadership and self-instruction in each of its eight student-led subdivisions: Business, Dynamics, Avionics, Propulsion, Structures, Ground Support Testing & Operations, Recovery, and Payload. The sub-teams are designed such that each student has a vital role in the overall success of the project. Each student is in control of and responsible for the design and construction of a sustainable rocket.
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​Business
  • The Business sub-team consists of a manager and 5-7 general members, who will be tasked with securing the financial future of the team, keeping a detailed accounting record, and marketing the achievements, goals, and ideas to individuals inside and outside of the organization.
  • This team is responsible for communication with sponsors, donors, faculty, and team moral and benefits. The business sub-team will also be responsible for funding and resource procurement, meaning daily responsibilities of maintaining a budget and allowing acquisition of parts and funds for the team.
  • Members will follow other sub-teams closely, documenting their technical work and relaying it to the public. Skills in photography, graphic design, accounting, and marketing are desired for this team. This sub-team performs critical operations that help fund and promote the Sounding Rocketry Team. Selected members must demonstrate a strong entrepreneurial mindset and personal drive.
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​Dynamics
  • The Dynamics sub-team consists of a manager and 4-5 general members who will be tasked with modeling the trajectory, aerodynamics properties, and stability characteristics of the rocket. Which includes nosecone and fin design and fabrication.
  • This team uses aerodynamic literature, wind tunnel testing, and analysis tools such as MATLAB, RASAero, and STAR-CCM+. The culmination of this process will be a stable and aerodynamically sound rocket, a product of educated design choices.
  • Members will be expected to consider all factors of a design problem, thoroughly document their work, and be detail-orientated while maintaining a high-level systems engineering mindset. Members are expected to have an understanding of aerodynamic concepts and a strong work ethic.
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​Avionics 
  • The Avionics sub-team consists of a team manager and 4-5 general members who will oversee modifications and improvements to the rocket’s avionics, power, and communication systems via hardware and software design.
  • This sub-team's goal is to produce robust, flexible systems capable of flight data acquisition, hybrid engine control, sensors, and flight computers. 
  • The sub-team’s work will require some basic programming experience (C, C++, Python, LabVIEW, etc.) and some familiarity with PCB design. Basic 3D modeling (SolidWorks) is not required but highly encouraged.
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​Propulsion
  • The Propulsion sub-team consists of a manager and 8-10 members who are tasked with developing, manufacturing, and characterizing robust and efficient hybrid propulsion systems for use in sounding rockets. Emphasis will be placed on research into the mechanics of a hybrid engine and its sub-systems in order to optimize engine characteristics (thrust, burn time, mass flow rates, regression, etc.) and accurately predict performance through computational models.
  • Members must be familiar with all components of a hybrid propulsion system (oxidizer tank, plumbing assembly, injector plate, combustion chamber, nozzle) and understand how these parts interact with one another. A background in chemistry, thermodynamics, and high speed aerodynamics is necessary, and experience with MATLAB, SolidWorks, and CFD is preferred. Additionally, prior machining experience is beneficial.
  • Individuals will be expected to contribute a significant amount of time to research, fabrication, and testing while learning new concepts and skills quickly regardless of prior exposure.
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​Structures
  • The Structures sub-team consists of a manager and 6-8 members whose role is to design, analyze, fabricate, and test all structural components of the team’s sounding rocket and launch infrastructure. This includes: fabrication of the rockets components (body tubes, nose cone, fins and bulkheads), materials testing/analysis, and design of major improvements to the launch trailer and launch tower.
  • Members will be responsible for making and updating relevant 3D CAD/SolidWorks models. Members will work with a variety of materials such as: composites, metals, and plastics to manufacture rocket components and launch equipment. Members will also perform experimental materials testing to characterize in-house composite mixtures, optimize manufacturability and provide structural integrity of all constructed rocket components.
  • Mechanical design, structural analysis, and hands-on experience with power tools/machining is desired but not required.
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​Ground Support Testing & Operations
  • The Testing & Operations sub-team consists of a manager and 6-8 members whose role is to characterize the rocket’s critical subsystems through rigorous testing and analysis; this includes the hybrid engine assembly, the oxidizer control system, and the ground communication network.
  • The sub-team will have the responsibility of maintaining and improving testing infrastructure such as the static test cell and the vertical launch tower. This sub team will also create and update test scripts and operations.
  • Sub-team members will be expected to be become proficient in data acquisition, signal processing, and systems engineering concepts. A respect for procedural testing and a large time commitment will be expected from all sub-team members.

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Recovery
  • The Recovery sub-team consists of a manager and 3 members whose role is to ensure the full recovery of the rocket through rigorous testing and analysis; this includes the parachutes, recovery computers, and airframe integration.
  • The sub-team will have the responsibility of designing and testing the rocket's recovery system and research into new solutions. Sub-team members will gain experience in computer aided design, electronic system validation, and dynamic load simulation.
  • Experience with high power rocketry recovery, structural analysis and a basic understanding of electronic systems is desired but not required.



​Payload
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  • The Payload sub-team consists of a manager and 3-5 members whose role is to design, build, test, and integrate a functional payload that completes a scientific objective within the 8.8-pound CubeSat format outlined in the Spaceport America Cup competition rules.
  • The sub-team will have the responsibility of researching and developing a unique and competitive CubeSat payload each year. Sub-team members will become proficient in electronic system design and validation, computer aided design, and research methods.
  • Electrical engineering skills, technical ambition, CAD experience, and research expertise are desirable skills for payload sub-team members.
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