Collegiate Rocket Launch Competition

Collegiate Rocket Competition Announcement of Opportunity
A calendar of events fully detailing program due dates is included in the competition handbook.

• Mission Grand Champion: $3,000 + VIP tour at Sierra Space (North Freedom, WI)
• 2nd Place: $2,000
• 3rd Place: $1,000
• Team Funding: Up to $1,000 for rocket supplies/equipment
• Travel Funding: Based on mileage/lodging eligibility (see competition handbook)
• Provided Equipment: One competition motor and Missile Works RRC3 altimeter
• Rocket Workshop Participation: Two team members per team

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2024-2025
Credit: Eric GansenThe Collegiate Rocket Launch competition gives student teams the opportunity to design, build, and launch a high-power rocket. With minimal restrictions, students are challenged to apply engineering, design, and creativity to achieve mission goals and gain hands-on aerospace experience.

This funding opportunity is made available for the pursuit of space-related research and/or activities through the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program: NASA Educational Cooperative Agreement #80NSSC25M7122. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this award is 43.008.

All awards are fully competitive awards of opportunity in which applications are reviewed by the WSGC Technical Advisory Panel and other experts as needed. Awards are made by the Assistant Director based on recommendations from the Associate Director.

See a list of current and past award recipients

Oral Presentations:  Carthage College
Launch Day Events: Richard Bong State Recreation Area

Faculty advisor must:

1. Create a NASA STEM Gateway account: nasa.gov/public/s/login/
2. Create a WSGC account: carthage.edu/about/login/
3. Log in and complete the Rocket Launch Team (Create NOI)

Team lead/Team members must:

1. Create a NASA STEM Gateway account: nasa.gov/public/s/login/
2. Create a WSGC account: carthage.edu/about/login/
3. Log in and complete the Collegiate Rocket Competition

Team members must:
• Be a Wisconsin resident during the academic year.
• Be enrolled full-time at a WSGC Academic Affiliate institution
• Obtain Tripoli or NAR membership (Level 1+ certification encouraged; mentor must hold proper certification)

Teams must:
• Have 4–6 student members and a designated team leader
• Have a committed faculty advisor and industry/NAR/Tripoli mentor

Engineering Parameters

Teams must design, construct, and fly a high-power, one-stage rocket that meets the following requirements (see competition handbook for additional detail):

• Recovery & Flight:
- Rocket must recover safely and be in flyable condition after apogee (verified by Range Safety Officer).
- Teams must attain the rocket’s minimum/maximum altitude (3400/4200 ft) and record the necessary data throughout the flight.
- Minimum altitude for main parachute is 300 ft.

• Mission Objective:
- Use an autonomous active control system to perform a stable flight.
- Demonstrate no evidence of roll or pitch after motor burnout.
- Perform an “operational check” by rotating (roll) the rocket stable at a 90° +/- (degree roll) and return rollback to continue stable flight reaching apogee.
- Include verifiable on-board video capture and data capture.

• Required Systems & Equipment:
- Use of a rocket motor from the approved list (see competition handbook).
- Integration of a COTS dual-deploy electronic recovery system with motor ejection backup.
- Equipped with an electronic GPS/RF downed-rocket locator (audible backup allowed but not sufficient).
- All structural materials must be sourced from reputable high-power vendors, or supported by engineering analysis.
- No ‘blue tube’ or self-made body tubes.
- Minimum/maximum 4” diameter required.

Recipients must:
• Submit award acceptance materials (Award Agreement, biography, photo) (W9 if winning team).
• Submit required reports: Preliminary, Critical Design, Flight Readiness, Post-Flight
• Provide RockSim model file, demo flight, and final team roster
• Submit education outreach form, student stories, and project photos
• Complete NASA reporting requirements (STEM Gateway activity acceptance, surveys)

Winners must:

• Attend and present rocket design and flight data at the Annual Wisconsin Space Conference (Aug. 2026) if Grand Mission Champion, 2^nd Place, 3^rd Place team.
• Submit Proceedings Paper by Sep. 15 if Grand Mission Champion, 2^nd Place, 3^rd Place team.