This is a program for students to design and build a sounding rocket payload and launch the payload on a rocket out of Wallops Flight Facility. Payloads shall be student based with faculty and/or industry involvement only. The RockSat-C program actively engages the students through full design-process mentoring, assisting them through the design phase in the Fall semester (Conceptual Design Review, Preliminary Design Review, and Critical Design Review), and leading the teams through testing and integration reviews and Launch Readiness Review in the Spring. The RockSat-C (RSC) manager also helps the teams with integration and launch at Wallops Flight Facility.
Participants that are up to the challenge can submit an Intent to Fly Form (IFF) in September that expresses an interest in participating in the current year’s RockSat program. Over the next four months teams will complete three design reviews that will culminate to a Critical Design Review and final down selection of the most able payloads that will fly in June of each year.
This is a competitive program, so depending on the available space on the rocket, the most advanced and able payloads are selected for flight no later than early January. These final down selected participants then continue in the process by completing flight payments and begin payload construction. Over the course of the next five months, participants undergo numerous sub-system reviews and teleconferences to ensure that designs are maturing as expected, led by the RockSat program manager. The manager acts as the liaison between the customer and Wallops Flight Facility and also acts as a guide along the long and arduous path to launch.
Timeline
The program starts every year in September and runs through payload flight in June. Our payloads have flown every year starting in 2009.
Educational Impact
Approximately 8-10 Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME) students use this for their Senior Design project along with several juniors who assist all year long.
How Can I Help?
Program costs run upwards of $20k each year. Payload space on the rocket costs about $10k alone. Additionally, two student trips to Wallops Island, VA are necessary, one in May and another in June. Financial contributions are appreciated and can be made by clicking here. Be sure to enter “Rocksat” as the designated program.