13-05-2025
UNLV rocketry team shoots for the sky
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Most college students spend their weekends cutting loose or occasionally studying. But a group of UNLV engineering students uses their free time to aim a little higher.
On a Saturday morning in April, the university's chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, or SEDS, gathered at the Jean Dry Lake Bed to put a year's worth of work to the test, launching a rocket more than 10,000 feet into the sky.
The project is led by Riley Santiago, a third-year engineering student at UNLV.
'When we see this successfully launch, I'm just going to feel a real sense of pride,' Santiago said.
Just a few years ago, Santiago was on a path toward medical school. Today, he's leading a team of students preparing to compete in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) in June. It's a contest that pits top university rocketry clubs from around the world against each other.
This test flight was their only chance to see how their design would perform under real conditions.
'This is kind of the biggest moment of the year other than the actual competition,' said student Ty Huel, who oversees the rocket's recovery systems.
The rocket's design requires that every component, from its GPS unit to its parachutes, work flawlessly to ensure a safe and intact return. The payload, a small tank of water meant to simulate a fuel device, also housed several onboard cameras to record the flight.
The team spent the morning racing to meet their noon launch deadline, carefully assembling the rocket and troubleshooting last-minute problems.
Problems started with the payload. It's the part of the rocket that holds a small tank of water. As part of the competition, SEDS UNLV is trying to minimize water sloshing during launch, mimicking fuel flow.
'It's complicated stuff,' Santiago admitted. 'We run a lot of calculations beforehand, but there's always something unexpected.'
Despite the pressure, Santiago praised his teammates for staying calm and focused. 'I love everyone here. They're really passionate, and we all get along well. That makes a big difference when you're under this kind of pressure.'
After several hours of preparation, the team was finally ready.
At around 2:15 p.m., with the rocket standing tall on the launchpad, Santiago received the green light to initiate the countdown. He pressed a red button, and seconds later, the rocket blasted into the sky.
'It's happening!' Santiago shouted, overwhelmed with excitement as the rocket soared.
The SEDS rocket reached 9,700 feet, just shy of its 10,000-foot target. However, it fell to Earth gently after the parachutes deployed.
'Success. Absolute success,' Santiago said, beaming. 'I'm very happy right now. Yeah, I could cry.'
With the test flight complete, the team will now analyze the flight data and refine their rocket for the IREC competition, which starts June 9 in Midland, Texas. More than 200 teams from around the world will take part.
Whether or not they bring home a trophy, Santiago says the experience of seeing their hard work pay off is reward enough.
'Just seeing your work succeed—after putting in so much effort—is crazy,' he said. 'That's what I love about this club.'
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