



About us:

"...and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too..." - JFK, 1962



Mission Statement

RIT Launch Initiative is a multidisciplinary student organization that applies the principles of rocket design and manufacturing for research and competition. We provide a constructive and challenging environment where our members learn the engineering fundamentals and gain valuable engineering experience that strengthens both technical and communication skills. Our goal is to raise awareness about the aerospace field and continue to be an acknowledged and well-respected organization. We achieve this through teamwork and the hard work necessary to develop rocket technology. We strive to strengthen the next generation of engineers.

Our Supervisor

The RIT Launch Initiative is currently supervised by Michael Buffalin, the Lab Director of the RIT Construct, a student marker space. The RIT Construct is located on the fourth floor of Institute hall, and aside from being a marker space, it is also the location of the RIT Launch Initiative.

Team Organization 2017-2018

Team Structure:

Mechanical

The mechanical team is responsible for the physical design, analysis, and manufacturing of all mechanical systems. More specifically, this team develops all structural, payload, aerodynamic, and recovery system components that will interface with the avionics team’s flight computer and propulsion team’s custom rocket engine. The team is broken down into two groups: Structures and Aerodynamics. The Structures Team is then further broken down into the Booster and Payload groups. The Aerodynamics Team delegates its responsibilities between the nose cone, fin design, flight stability, and over all aerodynamic design.

Avionics

The avionics team is responsible for the design, analysis, and implementation of all ground/flight hardware, communication, and software systems. This team develops the flight computer, electronics, and communication systems that controls the rocket and provides communication between the ground station and the rocket. The avionics team also implements sensors into the rocket to determine variables such as altitude, speed, pressures, and much more that informs the team of rocket behavior during flight, and provides control. The data collected by the avionics team can be further analyzed by the team to improve rocket design and performance as needed for the next rocket or launch.

Propulsion

The propulsion sub-team is responsible for the research, development, and implementation of custom rocket propulsion systems. Currently the team is in partnership with the Multidisciplinary Senior Design Program to design and manufacture a hybrid rocket engine with a total impulse of 9,209 lb-sec. Unlike a solid or liquid engine, a hybrid rocket engine implements the use of a liquid oxidizer and solid fuel grain to produce thrust. The engine is to be implemented for the 2019 rocket to participate in IREC 2019 advanced category to deliver a 10 lb payload to a height of 30,000 ft from ground.

From Left to Right: Ryan Chojnacki, Amy Guthrie, Oldarlyn Castillo, Trevor Mothersell, Zack Rizzolo, Tim Frey, Matthew Sisson, Doug Moyer

Level 1 Rocket Program:

The Level 1 (L1) Rocket program is a great opportunity for new members of Launch Initiative to learn about rocketry. Rocket levels or classes are based on the total impulse of the motor/engine being used in the rocket. L1’s are the lowest class of high-powered rocketry, usually reaching altitudes around 4,000 feet depending on the weight of the rocket. The L1, for many members of Launch Initiative, is their first experience with high-powered rocketry. Members learn how to build their own L1 rocket, how to simulate its flight, and then how to launch it. In the process, members learn the basics of rocketry and rocket-building. Upon the successful launch of their L1’s, members are awarded their L1 certification by the National Association of Rocketry. These certifications allows members to obtain level 1 rocket motors and launch level one rockets on their own time. The team has had 100% success rate with the L1 program and the manufacturing, launch, and recovery of L1 rockets.



Level 2 and Level 3 Rockets:

Level 2 rockets are the class of rockets in high-powered rocketry above Level 1. These rockets usually reach altitudes of 6,000 to 10,000 ft depending on the weight of the rocket. Members who have received their level 1 certification may choose to pursue level two certification.

Level 3 rockets are the class of rockets that go beyond level 2, and these rockets can reach altitudes of up to 30,000 ft and even greater depending on the weight of the rocket. After level two, members may choose to pursue level three certifications. Level three rockets tend to be the class of rockets that Launch Initiative designs and builds for competition. Level three rockets are the core projects of Launch Initiative, where all members play a part in the design and manufacturing of them.

History:

The RIT Launch Initiative was founded Fall of 2015 in the Rochester Institute of Technology by a group of students that shared a vision. The idea was to create a team that unites students who share an excitement and passion for aerospace and rocketry that can come together to learn, grow, and be exposed to the field.

RIT Launch Initiative-2015

At ImagineRIT in 2015, we presented our prototype hybrid rocket motor and control avionics to over 200,000 people who visited the event and won the ARM Technical Merit Award as a result of our modular avionics architecture. In addition to our accomplishments at ImagineRIT, we have designed and fabricated the avionics boards that controlled the MIT Rocket Team’s self-guiding payload launched during IREC 2015.



RIT Launch Initiative-2016

In the Fall of 2016 the RIT Launch Initiative began the Level 1 rocket program. Sixteen level one rockets were built and launched. Simultaneously, the team began the re-design of a level 3 rocket, Lazarus 1. This rocket was capable of reaching altitudes between 9,000-13,000 feet.

RIT Launch Initiative 2017

Level 2 Hephaestus

In the Spring of 2017, one of our members designed and manufactured a level two rocket, Hephaestus. This rocket implemented an air brake system as a way to slow down the rocket enough for the deployment of a large (7-9 feet diameter) main parachute. Usually large rockets such as a level two and level three use a dual deployment parachute system for recovery. However, the air brake system eliminates the need for the drogue parachute deployment at apogee. An illustration of the air brake system is shown below. The rocket was launched and successfully recovered in Potter, NY.

Lazarus 1



In the Fall of 2016 the design of Lazarus 1 was completed, and in Spring of 2017 the manufacturing of the rocket was initiated and completed. Lazarus 1 was the first level three rocket launched by us. It was composed of three stages, the booster which contained the motor and drogue parachute, the inner stage which contained avionics/flight computer, and the upper stage which housed the main parachute and camera bay. Overall the rocket was 9.76 feet tall, 4 inches in diameter, and weighed 40 pounds. The rocket was launched in late September in Geneseo, New York. The peak velocity was 575 miles per hour in less than 10 seconds, and it max altitude was 9,300 feet.





Our 2018-2019 Goals:

After the launch of Lazarus 1, we started the Level 1 Program for our new Fall 2017 members. We are expecting to launch more than 20 rockets with the 2017 Level 1 program. In parallel to the Level 1 Program, we are designing the next level three rocket to participate in the 2018 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition. The rocket will be launched to achieve 10,000 feet and deploy a custom 2U payload at that height. The competition will take place June of 2018 in New Mexico. We are striving to have the rocket designed and built by March of 2018 to test before hand.

Currently we are designing a custom hybrid rocket engine to participate in 2019 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition. The engine is being designed to deliver the rocket and a 10 lb payload to a height of 30,000 ft in the competition's advanced category. We are going to begin the design of the rocket that will house and implement the engine Spring of 2018.

How will we reach our goals?

Raise our target budget of $10,000 or higher.

Learn from our past experience and apply.

Communicate with our mentors and experts in the fields of rocketry and aerospace through the design and manufacturing phases.

Develop simulations and tests to validate our results, theory, and design.

Complete all requirements for competition based projects/programs.

Through teamwork





Long Term Goals:

Along side the two core projects for competition, our team conducts research and development to better improve our rockets and implement new techniques and ideas. For long term goals beyond the 2019 rocket, the team is looking into developing liquid rocket engines, two stage rockets, pneumatic recovery systems, and other rocket technologies. Within 5-10 years our team is striving to reach altitudes that go beyond 100,000 feet, to the Van Karman line which marks a height of 60 miles, marking the beginning of low earth orbit and space. Please join us in our journey!

Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC)

The Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition is a international competition hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) for university rocket teams to participate in. The competition involves designing and manufacturing a rocket vehicle to deliver a payload size of 8.8 pounds minimum to target altitudes of 10,000 or 30,000 ft above ground level. Two stage rockets are allowed as part of the competition to achieve target altitudes. All types of chemical propulsion systems are allowed in the competition (Solid, Liquid, and Hybrid propulsion systems), whether they are custom made by the student teams or bought off the shelf from a supplier. IREC has partnered with Spaceport America, “the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport to offer academia and industry a unique opportunity to collaborate, compete and inspire the next generation of aerospace engineers and scientists". IREC is the top and largest rocket competition in the world, with more than 600 students participating representing over 50 schools across 6 continents in 2016.

A link to the IREC competition website can be found below for further information:

http://www.soundingrocket.org/what-is-irec.html

Please help the RIT Launch Initiative if possible to take part in this great event, and have the opportunity to compete and gain the experience that comes from this engineering competition. Thank you!











