For the past 60 years, space has relentlessly proven to be the final frontier of our universe and the undiscovered country that continues to challenge and amaze scientists. While few space missions are attempted today, most rocket projects are maintained by civilian rocket enthusiasts aiming to study the upper regions of our atmosphere and to gain experience in amateur rocketry. This year, LUNAR is bidding to complete in the NASA Student Launch Initiative, where universities from across the nation compete at a launch in Toney, Alabama. The rocket will reach an apogee (maximum altitude) of about a mile, then deploy a soil testing payload during its decent, which will transmit information regarding the quality of the soil upon landing. During the year, students will go through several design reviews with NASA engineers, along with various subscale launch activities to refine their design, before preparing for the final competition launch. This project will need to consider structural mechanics, aerodynamics, radio frequency design, and the culmination of these fields pertaining to a launch vehicle system (rocket) and a payload system (autonomous soil tester).
The faculty sponsor for this project is Dr. Chad File, Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Every Senior Design Team project is a collaborative effort between students, faculty, the client, and those who support the project. Thank you for your support for the LUNAR Senior Design project!
