USC Students Shatter Space Records with Their Homemade Rocket: Aftershock II Soars to New Heights!

A group of ambitious students from the University of Southern California (USC) has achieved an extraordinary milestone in space exploration by successfully launching a homemade rocket that not only soared beyond the heights of its predecessors but also reached unprecedented speeds. Their rocket, aptly named Aftershock II, ascended to an astounding 90,000 feet (27,400 meters) higher than the previous record-holder, a Chinese rocket that had stood uncontested for over 20 years.

The spectacular launch took place on October 20 in the remote Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Aftershock II, towering at about 14 feet (4 meters) and weighing 330 pounds (150 kilograms), encapsulates the innovative spirit of the students at USC’s Rocket Propulsion Lab (RPL), an entirely student-run organization.

Impressively, Aftershock II broke the sound barrier just two seconds post-liftoff and achieved its maximum speed of approximately 3,600 mph (5,800 km/h) — an astonishing Mach 5.5 — a record that outstripped the previous amateur speed holder, China's GoFast rocket, set back in 2004. The unique ascent continued until the rocket exited Earth's atmosphere 85 seconds after launch, ultimately reaching its peak altitude or apogee of roughly 470,000 feet (143,300 meters), a phenomenal record for any non-governmental, non-commercial group.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable are the innovative engineering feats that the RPL students accomplished. Ryan Kraemer, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student and executive engineer of the team, highlighted that Aftershock II uses the most powerful solid-propellant motor ever created by students, along with the strongest composite case motor developed by amateurs. The rocket's design included cutting-edge advancements in thermal protection, crucial for maintaining integrity in hypersonic speeds.

The ambitious student engineers equipped Aftershock II with a novel heat-resistant coating and replaced traditional carbon-based fins with titanium-coated counterparts, which fared spectacularly through re-entry. The transformation of the titanium fins from silver to blue post-launch showcases the process of anodization, where intense heat interacts with oxygen, creating a protective layer of titanium oxide.

The rocket also featured an innovative control system known as the High Altitude Module for Sensing, Telemetry, and Electronic Recovery (HASMTER), which meticulously monitored the rocket's flight path and initiated parachute deployment. Remarkably, the students received minimal oversight from faculty, enabling them to take full ownership of their groundbreaking project.

This launch marks a continuation of RPL's legacy of innovation, following their historic success in 2019 when they became the first student-led team to cross the Kármán line—the recognized boundary of outer space. Aftershock II is now only the second-ever student-engineered rocket to achieve such astonishing heights.

As young innovators take to the skies, the implications of their research and discoveries may contribute significantly to the future of space travel. The world is watching closely, and one can only wonder what extraordinary feats these students will unveil next!