LUNAR team accepted to NASA competition to launch amateur rocket

The Lamar University Association of Rocketry (LUNAR) has officially been accepted into the NASA Student Launch Challenge competition for the second year in a row. Following endless hours of work over the summer, and the submission of the proposal, LUNAR is one of three teams from Texas to be a part of this competition. 

“The NASA Student Launch is a nine-month competition in which we design, build and test a rocket and engineering payload to complete a mission, that has a new approach every year,” Ana Morfin, senior mechanical engineering major and LUNAR co-team lead said. “Beyond the technical skills involved, the competition fosters teamwork, project management, and problem-solving skills, providing a valuable and positive experience for students.”

This competition is aimed for students to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as the students design their rocket, along with meeting documentation milestones.

The competition has many awards, including vehicle design, experiment design, social media presence, and the closest to the altitude target.

“The most challenging part of this competition is having to be innovative while also backing up your designs with multiple forms of hand calculations, research, and simulations,” Jonah Watts, senior mechanical engineering major and LUNAR team-lead said. “Designing a rocket capable of a smooth flight is no easy task, it’s rocket science, quite literally.” 

The LUNAR team at Lamar University is excited to begin working on their rocket design this year, with 27 members across six sub-teams. 

“The LUNAR team is made up of students from various disciplines, which is one of the aspects I appreciate most,” Morfin said. “This diversity brings together a variety of perspectives and expertise, from engineering and physics to design and project management. Collaborating with individuals who have different skill sets enriches our projects and creative problem-solving.”

The LUNAR team also allows students who are interested in aeronautics to gain experience for their future employment opportunities. 

“Being part of the avionics team aligns perfectly with my future goals because it allows me to apply my electrical engineering skills in a real-world environment,” Ryan Bell, junior electrical engineering major and LUNAR avionics team manager said.

This hands-on experience not only strengthens their technical abilities but also prepares them for the competitive job market in the engineering field. 

“Previously, I would have never imagined being able to work on a project that is so relevant to the field of engineering that I want to work in for the rest of my life,” Watts said. “Now, LUNAR is currently on our second year of being accepted into the competition and I have been able to utilize the skills I have learned from being a part of this team and applying them to getting internships and full-time job interviews and offers.”

The LUNAR team is not only hard at work making their rocket, but they also make time to have some fun during the process.

“Everyone has different personalities and learning styles, which makes it really interesting to work together,” Kathryn Brown, senior mechanical engineering major and LUNAR team recovery manager said. “It’s exciting because we get to be involved in every step of the design process—from brainstorming ideas and running simulations to actually building the rocket. Working through the entire process as a team makes it both fun and a great learning experience.”

The team is looking forward to creating their rocket and competing at their final competition. 

 “We will compete against 50+ universities,” Brown said. “This will be an exciting event to attend as we complete our final project milestone.”

The Student Launch challenge all builds up to the on-site event, where final launches are scheduled for May 3, 2025. Students will showcase their rockets at Bragg Farms in Toney, Alabama.  

To cheer on the LUNAR team, follow their journey on social media at https://www.instagram.com/aiaa_lu/ .