Who We Are

Zotckets is a student-led rocketry organization founded by UC Irvine undergraduates. We are dedicated to making high-powered rocketry accessible to everyone, with no prior experience required. Our mission is to open the door to hands-on engineering by guiding students through the process of designing, building and launching high-powered rockets. Throughout this process, members develop the technical and teamwork skills that drive the industry forward. During our first year, we guided more than 60 members through successful launches, helping them earn their High-Power Rocketry Level 1 (L1) certifications. Building on that momentum, we are expanding our workshops and tools to welcome even more aspiring engineers into aerospace engineering.

 Zotckets’ First Ever General Meeting in Winter 2026.
 

From the Ground to the Sky

Obtaining an L1 Certification and launching a rocket takes more than just assembling pieces together. We provide a multitude of resources to our members, and with these resources, students are able to learn the fundamentals of high-power rocketry and safe launch procedures, assemble and manufacture essential rocket components, build and attach the fins and other structural parts, prepare the recovery system that allows the rocket to return safely, customize and finish the exterior of their rocket, inspect the completed rocket before launch and finally launch it at the conclusion of the program. 

Zotckets allows students to apply concepts they may have learned in the classroom to a real-life experience. It teaches them how to solve problems, learn from mistakes, work with others and complete an engineering project from start to finish.

 Assembly day! Members receive help from mentors to build their rockets.

Why Our Mission Matters

Engineering is a broad discipline that allows students to explore ideas and solve real-world problems. However, gaining hands-on experience can be difficult. Aerospace engineering is an especially expensive field, and students may lack access to the materials, tools, workspace or guidance needed to get started. 

Rockets can cost up to $200 and carry a risk of failure, meaning that $200 can be lost in an instant. This can make the project intimidating for students, discouraging them from moving forward with the commitment.

At Zotckets, our primary goal is to ensure that a student’s financial situation never stands between them and their engineering ambitions. 

We work hard to reduce the average student cost to just $110/member and create an environment where students can explore rocketry freely, without additional financial or resource constraints. We achieve this by providing materials and utilizing in-house printing for rocket components.

Beyond funding, hands-on aerospace engineering requires proper guidance and a safe learning environment. Zotckets provides a structured, 10-week curriculum designed for beginner rocketeers with zero prior experience. We provide workshops and mentors to cultivate a positive learning environment, ensuring that every student gains the technical confidence and safely watches their rocket soar across the desert sky. 

This experience has an impact beyond a single launch. Students gain confidence in their technical abilities, discover new interests, connect with other aspiring engineers and develop skills they can carry into future classes, projects, internships and careers.

 Deco Day, where members are able to fully personalize their rockets to their own.

Ready to Help Us Launch?

Your support directly fuels student innovation, hands-on learning and successful desert launches. Every contribution, big or small, makes an impact. 

Thank you for helping us break down financial barriers and making hands-on rocketry accessible to all!

 April 2026 Cohort: 20 members successfully achieved their Level 1 Certification!

Connect With Us

Check out our website, follow our progress on Instagram and LinkedIn or reach out to us directly at zotckets@uci.edu.