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Introducing this year's UNC Charlotte 49er Rocketry Team! The team competes in the NASA USLI Competition with over 50 colleges competing across the nation. The team must go through several design phases and milestones, presenting these to NASA, which lead to the final launch in Huntsville, Alabama.
2022-2023 Team
The 49er Rocketry Team has been around for over 10 years and has always been a top competitor in the competition. In the past 6 years, the team has placed in the top 3 overall. Our team knows we have a lot to live up to, but we are ready to put in the work to help continue the success of the 49er Rocketry Team.
The competition for this year is already underway with the team beginning preliminary designs. With the Artemis program fully underway, a landing system that is capable of landing in various atmospheres is a necessity. The 2023-2024 Payload Team's mission is to design, build, and test a system that will safely retain and recover a group of 4 STEMnauts without the use of a parachute or streamer. A STEMnaut is defined as a non-living crew member and is assumed to have human astronaut survivability metrics. The vehicle is required to reach an altitude between 4,000 and 6,000 feet above ground level (AGL); however, the payload must be deployed between 400 and 800 feet AGL. The team has already put in many hours to design a payload and rocket that meet these requirements, and we are excited to show you the progress that has been made.
Full-Scale Rocket DesignIn order to keep the success of the 49er Rocketry Team, we need your help! This project requires the creation and development of advanced systems, with specialized materials, that tend to cost a decent amount. Unlike our team, most other collegiate teams are backed by a well-funded aerospace program. The cost of the project, between the research, design, construction, and travel throughout the competition is estimated to be $25,000.
Of the $10,000 fundraising goal, the amount raised will be broken down into the following categories: Payload, Vehicle, Testing, and Travel. An estimated $1,000 will go toward the payload, which includes all of the electronics and mechanisms. $4,000 will go towards the vehicle, which includes the motor, exterior tubing, and interior structural components. For the team to be able to travel to Huntsville, AL for the 4-day competition, an estimated $4,000. The remaining $1,000 will be put towards purchasing the necessary equipment in order to test to ensure the success of our rocket design for the competition.
An extension of the 49er Rocketry Team and NASA USLI competition is STEM Engagement. The team will hold and conduct several events to share and excite young students about not only rocketry but all of the possibilities in STEM. The team would like to continue to focus on reaching out and helping students at underprivileged schools. The team is passionate about fostering curiosity about STEM in the next generation of college students.
Donate today to be a part of the 49er Rocketry Team at UNC Charlotte
You can double or triple the impact of your gift if your employer participates in a matching gift program. To see if your employer has a matching gift program, click here. If your company matches, complete your matching gift form and submit it to UNC Charlotte via mail (UNC Charlotte Foundation, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223), fax (704-687-7259) or email (mwinslow@uncc.edu).
For more information and updates about the 49er Rocketry Team, visit the following pages:
Facebook: m.facebook.com/49errocketry/
Instagram: instagram.com/49errocketry/
Twitter: twitter.com/49erRocketry
