This slideshow requires JavaScript.

MACH Rocketry, a team of mechanical engineering students, went to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for BALLS 28 from September 20-22, 2019.

Over the course of the summer and the beginning of the fall semester, the team built a 4-inch sub-minimum diameter rocket to launch at this event. The team built the motor from scratch after many test burns and a full characterization of the propellant. They prepared Friday, September 20, and launch day was Saturday, September 21.

The rocket soared to an altitude of 35,300 feet going 1550 mph (Mach 2.0). The team had real time telemetry over the course of the entire flight and tracked the rocket to where it safely landed about 3.5 miles away from the launch site. The rocket was extremely straight leaving the launch rail and everything went perfectly with the flight.

The team plans to improve on the propellant over the course of the next few months to make a more energetic propellant, allowing them to reach even higher altitudes and faster speeds. The team says the rocket is an excellent model for them to now upscale for their senior design project.

Watch a video of the launch.

pictured left to right: Trevor Toft, Luke Egbert, Jamie Weiss, Adam DeCino