Students Break 20-Year Records with Homemade Rocket, Soaring Higher and Faster Than Ever Before!

A group of determined students from the University of Southern California (USC) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in aerospace engineering, successfully launching their homemade rocket, Aftershock II, to breathtaking heights and speeds, shattering long-standing records held by amateur spacecraft. On October 20, the rocket ascended to an astounding 90,000 feet (27,400 meters) beyond the previous record set by a Chinese rocket over two decades ago.

Aftershock II, a remarkable feat of engineering, was crafted by the entirely undergraduate Rocket Propulsion Lab (RPL) team at USC. Standing at approximately 14 feet (4 meters) tall and weighing 330 pounds (150 kilograms), this rocket embarked on its historic journey from the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The RPL's meticulous design enabled the rocket to break the sound barrier a mere two seconds post-launch, achieving its maximum velocity about 19 seconds later.

Impressively, 85 seconds after liftoff, Aftershock II escaped Earth's atmosphere, reaching an intimidating apex of around 470,000 feet (143,300 meters), which represents the highest altitude ever attained by a non-governmental and non-commercial group. Previously, the record set by China's Civilian Space Exploration Team in 2004 stood at 380,000 feet (115,800 meters). Furthermore, Aftershock II didn't just break altitude records; it also reached speeds of around 3,600 mph (5,800 km/h) — Mach 5.5 — slightly surpassing the former record-holder, the GoFast rocket.

Engineering accomplishments were also at the forefront of this achievement. Ryan Kraemer, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student and executive engineer of the RPL, noted that Aftershock II is distinguished by having the most powerful solid-propellant motor ever fired by students, alongside the most potent composite case motor realized by amateur builders.

This monumental success isn't an isolated incident for the RPL team. Back in 2019, they made headlines by becoming the first student-led team to fly a rocket beyond the Kármán line—the recognized boundary of outer space. Now, with Aftershock II, they have marked their place in the history books once again, being only the second student rocket to achieve such an extraordinary path into space.

Innovative engineering tactics were crucial to crafting Aftershock II. The team integrated advanced thermal protection systems, vital for maintaining the integrity of rockets at hypersonic speeds. The exterior was treated with a novel heat-resistant paint, while titanium-coated fins replaced the previously used carbon-based components, showcasing the team's commitment to pushing boundaries. The extreme temperatures caused the fins to undergo anodization, shifting from a gleaming silver to a striking blue.

Moreover, a novel control unit, dubbed the High Altitude Module for Sensing, Telemetry, and Electronic Recovery (HASMTER), was designed to monitor the rocket's trajectory and facilitate the parachute deployment, ensuring a controlled and safe descent.

Impressively, the RPL team managed to achieve these significant milestones with minimal assistance from faculty, showcasing their ingenuity, teamwork, and passion for aerospace engineering. As the boundaries of space exploration are continuously reevaluated, the achievements of these students stand as a testament to human creativity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Stay tuned as we follow the next thrilling adventures of these pioneering students in the field of rocket science! ✈️✨