The SDSU Rocket Project Gets a Funding Boost
The SDSU Rocket Project student organization is a beneficiary of a gift from the National College Resources Foundation.
The National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) continued its support for San Diego State University students with a $83,500 gift to the SDSU Rocket Project student organization and the university’s aerospace engineering facilities.“We are so pleased with San Diego State University’s commitment to diversity in STEM, and it being at the forefront of innovative ways to explore aerospace.”
This gift will help the student team prepare for upcoming competitions such as the prestigious Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR)/Mars Society Rocket Launch Competition, as well as to grow and explore emerging rocket technology.
“Student clubs and organizations are vital for experiential learning,” said Mary Ruth Carleton, vice president for University Relations and Development. “NCRF’s gift will create opportunities for students to explore the field of aerospace engineering before they enter the workforce.”
The SDSU Rocket Project was founded in May 2003 by five aerospace engineering students to design, build and launch experimental rockets and engage in other aerospace projects. It has grown to include more than 100 dedicated students from mechanical and aerospace engineering, physics, business and film departments.
Since its inception, the project has launched five rockets successfully, and has compiled a proven record of reliability in the competitive field of collegiate rocketry. The project’s current priority is the FAR/Mars Society competition, scheduled to take place in the spring of 2018. The FAR organization awards two $50,000 prizes for rockets powered by liquid methane and liquid oxygen that come closest to reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet.
Prepping for the competition, SDSU students have been working on their signature rocket, the liquid-fueled Galactic Aztec Mark II.
“We have the most experience with liquid rockets over other universities, and this gives us a great chance of winning at FAR/Mars,” said physics major Jenna McGuigan, the project’s secretary and treasurer.
Because liquid methane is more dangerous than other types of rocket fuel, the team practices strict safety procedures and is conscientious about working with faculty to locate secure campus facilities for building and storing rocket equipment.
The NCRF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarships and grants to support academic experiences among underrepresented minorities. Its gift will enable the project to finance equipment and launch costs with the larger goals of growing STEM education, entrepreneurship opportunities and real-world engineering experiences for diverse students.
“We are so pleased with San Diego State University’s commitment to diversity in STEM, and it being at the forefront of innovative ways to explore aerospace,” said NCRF president Theresa Price.
NCRF's total support to SDSU this year reached $200,000. Chase Price (’15), a former running back for SDSU football, serves on the NCRF board of directors. He presented the $200,000 check to SDSU President Sally Roush last month.
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