Collegiate Rocket Launch

Since it’s founding in the 1980s the UW-Madison AIAA chapter has been heavily involved with model rocketry. Each year we have competed in the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium’s Collegiate Rocket Launch competition (CRL). CRL is organized and regulated with the assistance of the Tripoli Wisconsin model rocketry organization, launching out of the model rocketry site at Richard H. Bong state park. Each year students face new and complex challenges in the design and construction of their rockets, often accompanied by an altitude or chute deployment requirement. The objectives are as follows:

  • 2015: Design and construct a two-stage boosted dart rocket with dual chute deployment and a target altitude of at least 3500 ft.
  • 2016: Design and construct a model rocket to scale based on a full-sized industry rocket. (UW Selected the German model V2)
  • 2017: Design and construct a rocket which demonstrates power generation mid-flight.
  • 2018: TBA October 2017.

If you’re interested in joining the 2018 team please attend the first large group AIAA meeting in the upcoming fall semester.