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With a roar that echoed across the launch site, 91�㽶��Ƶ University’s High-Power Rocket Team successfully launched the largest and most advanced rocket in its history on March 9, reaching an apogee of 11,517 feet and a top speed of 0.99 Mach—just shy of the speed of sound.

The test launch marked a major milestone ahead of the team's entry into the , the world’s largest collegiate rocket engineering event. Hosted by the , IREC draws student teams from around the globe to demonstrate student-researched-and-developed (SRAD) launch vehicles.

91�㽶��Ƶ’s team is currently on-site in Midland, Texas, preparing to compete in the 10,000-foot SRAD category. The multi-day event begins June 11 and brings together top student engineering teams to showcase technical design, payload innovation, and flight performance.

The 13-foot-tall rocket, equipped with a custom-built N2927 motor and twin payload systems, represents the culmination of months of research, design, and testing by a 40-member interdisciplinary team. It features a 6-inch diameter airframe, a 36.5-inch Haack Series Von Kármán nose cone, and a four-fin trapezoidal configuration designed for aerodynamic stability at near-supersonic speeds.

“This is the best rocket and the best team we’ve ever had,” said Mitchell Bird, a graduate student in aerospace engineering and the team’s graduate advisor. “The team has developed a bigger and better rocket in every way possible.”

Founded in 2016, the 91�㽶��Ƶ High-Power Rocket Team has undergone a dramatic evolution, from a small group of eight active members just a few years ago to a thriving, student-run organization with more than 40 students participating in the 2024–2025 academic year. That growth has brought increased technical depth, formal leadership roles, and multi-year mentoring systems that support both project success and student development.

“During my freshman year with the rocket team, we started with just eight members remaining by the end of the year. It’s incredible to see how we’ve grown to over 40 students since then,” said Autumn Ohl, a senior aerospace engineering major and project manager. “Seeing the growth not only in the team itself but also in our rockets, now having the largest rocket and most powerful motor in team history, makes being part of this legacy even more meaningful.”

The team includes students from aerospace engineering, mechatronics engineering, computer science and biology, all working across five integrated subsystems—propulsion, payload, avionics, and aerostructure safety, systems, and recovery. Senior leads mentor underclassmen to ensure the continuity of knowledge, while newer members gain hands-on experience assembling components, analyzing data, and preparing for launches.

The rocket includes a 6U cubesat housing scientific instrumentation and an embedded pressure transducer system mounted in the nose cone to collect data on shock wave propagation, an innovative design rarely attempted at this level of competition.

“Testing our largest rocket yet is a true reflection of our growth, innovation, and the strength of our teamwork,” said Jeffrey Anderson, senior aerospace engineering student. “This milestone is not just about the size of the rocket; it represents the collective effort of each team member, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.”

The final competition rocket will feature a scaled-down motor to better target the 10,000-foot flight ceiling required in their division. Points are awarded not only for technical performance and apogee accuracy, but also for payload innovation and reporting.

“I almost didn’t join any clubs first semester, but I’m really glad I joined rocket team,” said Bodhi Teraguchi-Normand, a freshman mechatronics engineering technology student. “It’s so rewarding seeing the rocket fly and knowing you had a hand in the design and build.” Sophomore aerospace engineering student, Igor dos Anjos added, “It is indescribable the opportunities and knowledge that the rocket team is giving me as an aerospace engineer major and international student, I am really proud to help build the biggest rocket that the team has made.”

91�㽶��Ƶ’s participation in IREC is supported by the and numerous university resources. With sights set on the 30,000-foot category in future years, the team continues to advance its capabilities, and inspire a growing community of student engineers.

Check out the HPRT new rocket test flight: