We are a dedicated group of students from The Missouri University of Science and Technology that work together to design, build, and fly rockets. From record breaking solid rockets, to experimental liquid designs, and educational new member programs, we work hard to provide career pathways and community for our members.
Team History
In the year 1999, AAVG (Advance Aerospace Vehicle Group) was founded. The design team that would eventually split into both the Rocket Design Team and Miner Aviation, originally focused on planes to fly in the SAE Aero competition. The first rockets from the team came in the 2005 – 2006 year as a subgroup of AAVG. Rockets would continue being built by AAVG until 2015, when the Rocket Design Team was formally split into its own design team. In 2017, the Liquid Rocket Design Team was formed as its own separate team to focus on the research and development of student liquid rocket engines. This team would merge with the Rocket Design Team the following year to consolidate resources. In 2025, the Rocket Design Team has over 150 members, testing and flying both solid and liquid rockets in various competitions, as well as educating new members in the engineering of high powered rockets.
Solid Project
The eventual goal of the Solid Project is to reach space by launching a rocket higher than the Karman line (62 miles). Each year we make incremental steps towards that goal by launching higher, faster, and with more SRAD components than in previous years. Our 2023 – 2024 solid rocket Fortitude, is our altitude and speed record holder, reaching mach 2.6 and 34,000 feet (6.44 miles) in altitude.
Liquid Project
The Liquid Project focuses on researching, building, and launching experimental liquid propellant rockets. In the past we have experimented with the design and manufacturing of small scale gaseous methane-oxygen engines like Oberth and Typhon. Currently, we employ Ethanal and Nitrous Oxide as our propellants of choice. Our first successful Liquid Propelled rocket Phoenix, became the 15th collegiate liquid propelled rocket in the U.S. to launch and be successfully recovered in June of 2025.
Team Education
Argonia Cup
Every year the team participates in The Argonia Cup Challenge. The goal of this competition is to launch a payload of as many golf balls as possible, as high as possible, using a two stage rocket. Our team educators guide a group of new members in the design, build, and eventual launch of the Argonia Cup rocket every year. We are able to take roughly 10-15 members out to Argonia, Kansas in March to compete in the competition.
The Level One Program
The Level One Program is a program designed to help new members build their own small-scale rocket with the help of the team’s experienced mentors. This will allow them to become Level One certified fliers with the Tripoli Rocketry Association, as well as give them hands on experience building their very own rocket!
Rockets & You
Rockets & You is an introductory class to anything and everything rocketry! It is a short series of lessons designed to teach new members the basics of rocketry, and how that information can be applied working on the team. Rockets and you is taught by our two team educators and run by the chief educator, with presentations put on by different leads on the team about their subgroups.