The goal of the project is to be the first collegiate team to launch a rocket past the Karman line, 100 km above sea level. “Smaller payloads take a back-seat on traditional launch vehicles, prohibiting universities and small companies from innovating in space,” Monica explains. “As companies begin to experiment with reusable, low cost, Low-Earth-Orbit capable rockets, our team is determined to show that space is attainable for colleges and small companies.”

Monica’s team is looking to push the bounds of collegiate rocketry by sending a rocket past the Karman line in one year, on a platform that is inexpensive and fully reusable. “Our team is seeking to design and build a rocket on a $100,000 budget, powered by a liquid RP-1/LOX 3D Printed Inconel engine,” she explains. “We’ve spent the last summer designing and reaching out to companies for sponsorships, and we’re just about ready to enter the manufacturing and testing phase of our project. We’ve already raised 75% of our budget, and are hoping to raise the last 25% with a crowd funding campaign Oct. 15-31, 2018."

Check out a short video about their project here. Visit castlepointrocketry.space, check them out on Facebook and Instagram @cprocketry, or email them at [email protected].