Immerse. Invent. Ignite.

The UCI Rocket Project - Solids Team launched in Spring 2022, bringing together a community of ambitious undergraduate students driven by a shared passion for rocketry. Our team is dedicated to the end-to-end process of designing, building, testing, and ultimately competing with solid-propellant rockets on a national stage. With a team of 20-30 committed students each quarter, we push the limits of our knowledge and skills as we take on challenges at intercollegiate rocketry competitions, including the prestigious Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico. Through this experience, UCI Rocket Project - Solids Team members are empowered to transform ambitious ideas into real-world aerospace applications, bridging classroom theory with hands-on experimentation and igniting our futures in aerospace engineering.

Fig. 1: UCI Rocket Project Solids after a Test Readiness Review on February ‘24

Our Mission

As it always has been, our mission is to explore the technology and theory of aerospace through international competitive rocketry. Through this, we can leave a legacy of stable soaring rockets for future UCI rocket project teams. We dedicate ourselves to graduating leaders committed to a career of ethical engineering services

Fig. 2: F.A.R. Static Level-3 Motor Test Fire

In an era where space exploration is rapidly shifting from aspiration to achievement, our project serves as a vital launch pad for daring minds and bold dreams. The UCI Rocket Project – Solids Team has made tremendous strides. In Spring 2023, we tested our first level-3 motor solid rocket  motor in the Mojave Desert. Although the rocket experienced an in-flight rapid disassembly, we saw this setback as a source of invaluable insight. With resilience and dedication, we completed a successful static test fire and level 2 test launch with our competition-ready avionics system. 

At the 2024 Spaceport America Cup Engineering Conference and Competition, we proudly launched “ZotStar,” our first level-3 motor solid rocket, reaching an impressive 7,500 feet in the 10,000-foot category. This achievement fueled our ambition to aim even higher. For the 2025 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), we are taking on a new challenge in the Student Researched and Developed (SRAD) category, developing and casting our own Level-3 sugar propellant motors from scratch and integrating completely new ideas into our rocket design, including nozzles, thrust plates, and more!

Fig. 3: Solids Preliminary Check Before Launch at the 23-24 Spaceport America Cup

Fig. 4: Official Launch at the 23-24 Spaceport America CupOur Community

We also love to involve ourselves in our community! By helping and supporting young rocket project groups such as Samueli Academy’s after-school rocket program, we aim to inspire the next generation of engineers and fuel their passion for space exploration!

How Your Donations Help Us!

Manufacturing multiple level 1 to level 3 rockets and competing in international competitions such as the SA Cup requires immense resources and unwavering support. Donations are the lifeblood of our project, enabling us to invest in cutting-edge equipment and state-of the art technology and advanced materials -- each essential to the development of larger and more sophisticated rockets. 

Your support not only contributes to the overall quality of our rocket, but to the entire team’s learning experience, providing valuable insights into the intricacies of aerospace engineering. Direct contributions to our participation in prestigious competitions like the Spaceport America Cup allows our team to experience the full impact of industry-level rocketry, gaining experience in hard deadlines and learning true, real-world problem-solving skills. The extensive testing required for understanding, detailed design, and ensuring reliable procedures and components demands significant financial resources. Your donation directly funds these essential tests, covering expenses such as travel to test sites and the procurement of items crucial for testing. Each and every donation, no matter how large or small, makes a difference in our path to greatness.

Your contributions are vital to propelling us to new heights, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you. Thank you!