Spaceshot
Members of the Sounding Rocket Lab work together to reach outer space.
The University of Colorado-Boulder Sounding Rocket Lab (SRL) is the largest student-based research and development organization on campus. With over 170 active members, SRL is currently led by Zach Lesan, an Aerospace Engineering senior and Reserve Officer Training Corps member, and Elliott McKee, an Aerospace Engineering graduate student. Dr. James Nabity serves as the faculty advisor. The mission of SRL is to provide a comprehensive learning environment for students that involves hands-on experience with realworld engineering problems. CU students have the opportunity to follow the expert process engineers take in solving complex challenges across several fields. By working through this integral process, students develop analytical, critical thinking, and leadership skills alongside their peers.
SRL is made up of 10 teams across several professional fields. These include Liquid Engine Development, Propellant Development, Composite Propulsion, Cold Gas Control Vehicle, Avionics, Obsidian, Video, Server Administration, Composites Manufacturing, and Business. Each team sets their own goals and deadlines. For example, Propellent Development is in charge of developing and manufacturing high performance solid rocket propellant, with subteams varying from Mixing to Research & Development. Additionally, the Avionics team is responsible for the analysis, design and implementation of a flight management network; this network serves as the primary navigational and guidance system of the rocket while also providing data acquisition and in-flight processing. Each team’s projects take varying amounts of time to complete based on complexity, manpower, and resources. Unlike professional engineers, the student engineers of SRL are not on the payroll. School is always the first priority for every member of SRL, but with a healthy dose of motivation, the organization will continue to meet its high goals. Even though there are ten different teams all with varying missions, there is one overarching goal of SRL that all teams are currently working towards: the Spaceshot. The goal of Spaceshot is simple, to reach outer space.
The entire association of student engineers is working tirelessly to become the second student base rocketry team, behind the University of Southern California, to ever make it past the Karman Line (100km in altitude) and officially into outer space. According to the SRL Engineering Development Goals, “this includes the development of a rocket structure, propulsion system, avionics package, TPS, recovery system, ground control and recovery tracking, and launch tower.” It is not about simply reaching space; professionals do it every day. SRL’s primary objective is to create a 100% studentdesigned and built system from the ground up that is capable of reaching outer space. This is a once in a lifetime achievement for student-engineers. The current step in SRL’s mission to reach space is the launch of Obsidian. Obsidian is a rocket designed to serve as the bedrock for the electronics, hardware, and manufacturing processes used on Spaceshot. Obsidian will drive SRL’s next steps forward with a prospective launch date next semester. However, there are many challenges SRL faces in its mission to reach outer space.
At the moment, the biggest obstacles SRL is facing in its effort to reach space is a lack of funding and a lack of allocated lab space near the university. While SRL has many sponsors, the current funding is not enough for the ambitious objective of passing the Karman Line. Additionally, the current SRL lab space is located in Broomfield, over 20 minutes from campus. For students based primarily in Boulder, it can be difficult to organize rides and meetups to get to the lab. In order to overcome these obstacles, SRL members are working to expand the sponsorship network and organize carpools to the lab space whenever possible. If you would like to be a part of this growing organization, please email cobra@colorado.edu.
Team photo courtesy of Sounding Rocket Lab
Test Fire photo courtesy of Owen Kaufmann