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Project Sandstorm

Sandstorm was the challenger built for the 2025 IREC. The rocket stands at 11.4 feet in height, 6 inches in diameter, and weighs 90 pounds. Designed to fly to 30,000 feet using the O5500X-PS motor, Sandstorm achieved a top speed of Mach 1.5 and acceleration of 20Gs at IREC. With an apogee of 29,541 feet, Sandstorm is our best performing rocket ever. It was recovered with no damage, in a ready-to-fly condition. Sandstorm ranked 7^th in the world, 2^nd in the 30k COTS category, and 1^st in Texas at the 2025 International Rocket Engineering Competition.

Project Prometheus

Designed to be a testing rocket, Prometheus incorporates elements that will be seen in future rocket designs. Standing at 8.12 feet in height, 6 inches in diameter, and with a dry mass of 34.5 pounds, Prometheus was launched at the 1^st Annual Texas Lone Star Cup, in March of 2025. Using a L-1500T-PS motor, Prometheus’ simulated altitude was 6,100 feet, having reached an apogee 6,110 feet during flight, 10 feet shy of the simulated altitude. Prometheus holds the title of best rocket in Texas at the Lone Star Cup.

Project Outlander

Outlander was our very first attempt at a rocket intended to fly to 30,000 feet, hence its name. Its most notable characteristic sits in the middle of the rocket, where an aluminum piece seamlessly transitions the lower airframe body from 5 inches to 6 inches in diameter. Outlander stands at 10.5 feet and 82 pounds, all powered by the 21,000 Newtons of thrust that the Aerotech O5500X-PS motor produces. At the 2024 Spaceport America Cup, Outlander flew to 28,121 feet at a top velocity of Mach 1.6 and producing 26 Gs of acceleration. Outlander went on to place 26^th Overall, 4^th in the 30k COTS category, 2^nd in the Chilly Cup, and 3^rd in Texas.

Project Daedalu

Daedalus, named after the mythical Greek inventor, was the team’s second entry to the Spaceport America Cup. Designed to fly to 10,000 feet, Daedalus’ main objective was to prove the team’s capabilities in designing a rocket that would return safely to ground while maintaining the performance needed to reach the 10k feet mark. Daedalus marked the first ever time that the team recovered its rocket, culminating from the amazing effort from the 50+ students involved in the project. The 2023 Spaceport America Cup challenger stands at 8.4 feet in height and 6 inches in diameter, and with a pad weight of 60 pounds. Daedalus reached an apogee of 8,947 feet, achieving 40^th place in the 10K COTS category and 59^th in the Overall standings.

Project Initium

Initium was the team’s first ever attempt at a competition rocket, designed for the 2022 Spaceport America Cup. It stood at 7.5 feet in height with a 6-inch diameter. Initium experienced a nominal ascent but, unfortunately, the main parachute was never fully deployed. The team lost telemetry with the rocket and was unable to recover it. In 2024, the rocket was said to be recovered by a fellow team, but the Sun City Summit Rocket Team was never notified or made aware until after the body tube had been disposed. Our Leadership team reached out in an effort to return Initium to El Paso, but no effort was made by the other team to return it.

International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC)

With over 150 teams competing from around the world, the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) is the world's largest intercollegiate competition and provides a chance for university teams from around the world to showcase their talent and innovation in the engineering field. Having the opportunity to represent UTEP at such a prestigious event fills us with excitement and pride.

IREC is more than just the opportunity to compete against talented teams but also about the chance to network and connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds to exchange ideas, experience, and knowledge forming lifelong friendships while doing so.

Getting the chance to learn from other teams' unique experiences and approaches in their rocket design ultimately helps to expand the team’s knowledge, allowing us to push our boundaries to constantly improve our designs. Every chance at interacting with the variety of teams at IREC, whether it be fellow rocketeers or seasoned professionals who have had a lifetime of experience, gives us the chance to continue growing not only our rocketry skills but our engineering knowledge and understanding to redefine our vision of what is possible.

We are incredibly proud of the privilege to be a part of not only IREC but of its vibrant global community. IREC ultimately allows up and coming engineers to apply what they’ve learned into the classroom into real world applications helping to solidify their knowledge in the field and challenge them to push through their limits to become the best of the best. We are eager to keep pushing forward and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

To learn more about the competition click .

Lone Star Cup Competition

The Lone Star Cup Competition is a Texas based regional collegiate rocketry competition providing an opportunity for students to compete in an IREC-style competition where teams from the region compete in flying their rockets as close as possible to their predicted apogee showcasing each team's design and simulation accuracy.

Competing in such a competition not only provides us with an opportunity to get familiarized with IREC-style launches and inspections but allows us to connect with fellow Texas universities to expand our understanding of rocketry learning from one another to ultimately benefit each team's technical expertise. Networking amongst Texas university teams allows us to share experiences and perspectives, fostering collaboration in the field of both rocketry and engineering.

We have been honored to compete amongst fellow Texas colleges learning from one another to ultimately exceed what we as engineers are capable of.

To learn more about the competition click .

Avionics

Payload

Design an experiment that can successfully provide data of scientific merit during flight that enables meaningful learning opportunities.

Propulsion

Provide launch vehicle with safe, efficient, and reliable power during flight using a solid propellent motor.

Recovery

Design and test recovery system to safely land vehicle components by utilizing a dual-deployment recovery system.

Manufacturing

Manufacture and work on any components that require the use of CNC milling machines, lathes, and other machinery in the shop.

Systems engineering

Ensures seamless integration and communication between all subteams by tracking system-level requirements, maintaining detailed records, and overseeing full-system testing and troubleshooting. The team works to guarantee that all subsystems function together, enabling efficient development and successful mission execution.

Media

Promotes the team’s progress, achievements, and outreach efforts through social media content, photography, and videography.

Special Projects

Research, test, and develop innovative flight hardware aimed at enhancing rocket performance such as airbrakes and liquid propulsion.

Business

Manages team sponsorships and fundraising to support project development.