Rocket with G Level Motor

Built and flew a student competition rocket as part of BYU Rocketry's Student Launch Competition. Working with a four-person team, I helped design, build, launch, and recover the vehicle, which reached 1,575 feet against a 1,700-foot target. The project demonstrates foundational rocketry design, flight operations, and teamwork.

Role
Rocket Team Member
Team
BYU Rocketry Student Launch Competition Team
Duration
September 2023 - December 2023
Outcome
Helped build, launch, and recover a G-motor rocket that reached 1,575 feet against a 1,700-foot target.
Core Tools
Rocket Fabrication, Design Reviews, Launch Operations, Recovery Systems
Student team standing with the completed G-motor rocket at the launch site.

Overview

I helped design, build, launch, and safely recover a rocket using a motor in the G impulse category. This was completed with a team of three others for the Student Launch Competition.

Our target altitude was 1,700 feet using a G74W commercial motor, and the rocket reached 1,575 feet.

Key Contributions

  • Reached an apogee close to the target altitude
  • Built and recovered the rocket without damage
  • Completed both preliminary and critical design reviews before launch

Timeline

  • Duration: September 2023 - December 2023
  • Total time: 30 hours
  • Time commitment: About 2 hours per week

Results

The Rocket

Rocket name: The Elton John

We added four parachute army men inside the rocket for a memorable payload detail: two in the nose cone and two attached to the parachute system.

Stuffing in the army men

Loading the rocket onto the launch stand

Rocket prepared for launch

Our team with the rocket

BYU Rocketry Student Launch Competition 2023

Videos

The launch

The landing

In the landing footage, two army men trail behind the parachute line with their own small parachutes, while the other two separate from the vehicle during descent.

Technical Skills