Project Overview
Project Hail Mary, the vehicle we developed for the 2026 Argonia Cup Championship. This was the smallest diameter vehicle in the club's history, while also designed to be the highest and fastest rocket yet.
Developed for the 2026 Argonia Cup challenge. This challenge required students to construct a 2-stage high-powered rocket to an altitude between 9,000 feet and 40,000 feet, and carry a payload of a number of golf balls. A score was given as a function between the max altitude, number of golf balls flown, and total amount of impulse in the vehicle. The rocket was designed to reach an altitude of 22,000 feet and carry 10 golf balls with a total impulse of 3,721 Ns. For the most optimal design, we did a single separation dual deploy recovery system, as well as a minimum diameter vehicle, which was a first for the club.
During competition flight, the vehicle experienced an interstage failure during ascent and did not reach its target apogee, cutting the flight short of a scored result. Post-flight analysis has since isolated the failure mode, and these findings are shaping the team's design work for the upcoming season.