At The Ohio State University, Buckeye Space Launch Initiative is a student-run aerospace organization that designs, builds, and launches rockets through competitive and research-driven projects. Its teams develop university-built vehicles for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative and the International Rocket Engineering Competition, while Liquid Rocket Systems has hot-fired its own additive-manufactured engine. Working from the College of Engineering Makerspace, BSLI brings together students from a wide range of fields for hands-on rocketry.
Case Rocket TeamCleveland’s Case Rocket Team is Case Western Reserve University’s undergraduate aerospace design team, building and flying high-power rockets for nationwide competitions and aerospace events. Open to students from every major and skill level, the team has reached the Spaceport America Cup podium and set a team altitude record above 24,000 feet. Its work also gives members hands-on experience in composite manufacturing, propulsion, recovery systems, and National Association of Rocketry certification.CLEVELAND, OH
Operation SpaceFounded in May 2018, Operation Space designs and builds rockets through a nationwide, remotely coordinated team of college students. Unlike university-bound rocket projects, it brings students from different schools together around collaboration rather than competition, with the goal of proving what young people can accomplish through a highly technical launch. The team assembled and tested its two-stage rockets at Vanderbilt University during build week.STONY BROOK, NY
Cornell Rocketry Project TeamSince 2012, Cornell Rocketry Project Team has given Cornell students hands-on aerospace experience by designing, assembling, and launching high-powered rockets for the Spaceport America Cup. A 50-member, six-subteam team, it builds a new rocket from scratch each year, including in-house hybrid motors and guided descent systems. Its 2025 rocket, Andromeda, reached 12,100 feet on a test flight and earned third place in the competition’s 10K Hybrid SRAD category.ITHACA, NY
Clarkson University RocketryClarkson University Rocketry is a student-run competitive engineering team that designs, fabricates and launches high-power rockets for personal missions and international competitions. Working through Clarkson University’s SPEED program and composites laboratories, students take projects from modeling and in-house composite construction through flight testing. The team also supports members pursuing Tripoli Level 1 and Level 2 high-power rocketry certifications.POTSDAM, NY