Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Lab: Rocket Team

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2019 NASA USLI Competition

2019 NASA USLI Competition

Henry (2019) and Professor Anilkumar waving the team over after mission completion.

Tennessee Makers Fest

Tennessee Makers Fest

Team member explains the mission requirements of Thrustworthy.

Incoming Rocket Landing

Incoming Rocket Landing

Rocket descent to ground after parachute deployment was complete.

2019 NASA USLI Competition

2019 NASA USLI Competition

Henry (2019) and Professor Anilkumar waving the team over after mission completion.

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On Monday, the team delivered its PDR presentation to NASA. Excited to continue working and end the semester strong with a subscale launch in December! 🚀🚀
#nasausli #studentlaunchchallenge

On Monday, the team delivered its PDR presentation to NASA. Excited to continue working and end the semester strong with a subscale launch in December! 🚀🚀
#nasausli #studentlaunchchallenge

Last week, the team rounded out its slate of guest visitors with Dr. Erika Wagner, Vanderbilt alumna and Director of Emerging Space Markets @blueorigin ! It has been an honor to have the opportunity to share our project with several industry executives over the past weeks and keep those ties strong.

Last week, the team rounded out its slate of guest visitors with Dr. Erika Wagner, Vanderbilt alumna and Director of Emerging Space Markets @blueorigin ! It has been an honor to have the opportunity to share our project with several industry executives over the past weeks and keep those ties strong.

The team had the privilege of hosting Mark Dalton again in the lab to discuss this year’s project. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to show off the results of the team’s hard work with a fellow aerospace enthusiast!

The team had the privilege of hosting Mark Dalton again in the lab to discuss this year’s project. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to show off the results of the team’s hard work with a fellow aerospace enthusiast!

It was an honor getting to speak with Don Kaderbek, VP of Test at @hermeuscorp today! The team had the opportunity to learn about Mr. Kaderbek’s experience and received advice on being an effective engineer and team member. Mr. Kaderbek’s enthusiasm for aerospace is truly inspiring for all of us at VADL!

It was an honor getting to speak with Don Kaderbek, VP of Test at @hermeuscorp today! The team had the opportunity to learn about Mr. Kaderbek’s experience and received advice on being an effective engineer and team member. Mr. Kaderbek’s enthusiasm for aerospace is truly inspiring for all of us at VADL!

After a year of hard work, the team is happy to have successfully launched their rocket and payload this weekend in Huntsville! Thank you NASA for this amazing experience, and to all of the people that made this possible.

#nasausli #vanderbilt #vanderbiltengineering #huntsville

After a year of hard work, the team is happy to have successfully launched their rocket and payload this weekend in Huntsville! Thank you NASA for this amazing experience, and to all of the people that made this possible.

#nasausli #vanderbilt #vanderbiltengineering #huntsville

Last week the VADL team submitted its PDR report and had its first official picture taken. Congrats for this big milestone!

#nasausli #vanderbiltengineering #nasa #stemoutreach

Last week the VADL team submitted its PDR report and had its first official picture taken. Congrats for this big milestone!

#nasausli #vanderbiltengineering #nasa #stemoutreach

Yesterday our outreach team was invited by @bsasnashville to present about the VADL and our projects in the context of the @nasa Student Launch challenge. Thank you for having us!
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#nasausli #engineering #stemoutreach #socialimpact #vanderbiltuniversity #rockets

Yesterday our outreach team was invited by @bsasnashville to present about the VADL and our projects in the context of the @nasa Student Launch challenge. Thank you for having us!
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#nasausli #engineering #stemoutreach #socialimpact #vanderbiltuniversity #rockets

Last week, the team had the honor to meet Dr. Frank Steinle, a veteran Aerospace Engineer and AIAA Fellow. In his visit, Dr. Steinle toured the VADL and provided an inspirational speech before learning about this year’s NASA USLI challenge and our current project.
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#usli #vanderbiltuniversity #nasa #studentlaunch #enginnering

Last week, the team had the honor to meet Dr. Frank Steinle, a veteran Aerospace Engineer and AIAA Fellow. In his visit, Dr. Steinle toured the VADL and provided an inspirational speech before learning about this year’s NASA USLI challenge and our current project.
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#usli #vanderbiltuniversity #nasa #studentlaunch #enginnering

Kicking off the year with good energy! 💪 #vanderbiltuniversity #engineering #nasa #studentlaunch #aerospace

Kicking off the year with good energy! 💪 #vanderbiltuniversity #engineering #nasa #studentlaunch #aerospace

Thank you NASA and all other teams for a great challenge this year! #NASA #StudentLaunch

Thank you NASA and all other teams for a great challenge this year! #NASA #StudentLaunch

Only thing better than Ham is New Ham 🚀 #HappyLaunchWeek #nasaulsi #rocketing #aerospaceengineering

Only thing better than Ham is New Ham 🚀 #HappyLaunchWeek #nasaulsi #rocketing #aerospaceengineering

All dressed up with somewhere to go! The team had their last meeting with the NASA panel and are looking forward to upcoming milestones! #NASAusli #stem #aerospace

All dressed up with somewhere to go! The team had their last meeting with the NASA panel and are looking forward to upcoming milestones! #NASAusli #stem #aerospace

Earlier this week VADL was able to host lab supporter and Vanderbilt Trustee, Mark Dalton! The team enjoyed the opportunity to connect with a fellow aerospace enthusiast! 🚀🚀

Earlier this week VADL was able to host lab supporter and Vanderbilt Trustee, Mark Dalton! The team enjoyed the opportunity to connect with a fellow aerospace enthusiast! 🚀🚀

It’s a bad day to be RAFCO #nasausli #stem #vadl #doingthething

It’s a bad day to be RAFCO #nasausli #stem #vadl #doingthething

As we continue to keep an eye on this bird, watch this video of our recent full-scale launch and main parachute inflation. Thanks to everybody with the Music City Missile Club for organizing a smooth launch day!

As we continue to keep an eye on this bird, watch this video of our recent full-scale launch and main parachute inflation. Thanks to everybody with the Music City Missile Club for organizing a smooth launch day!

Check out the onboard footage of our Active Apogee Control secondary payload. All 4 airfoils were tilted at 400 ft such that the lift cancels out, and only drag is produced. The flight data helped to inform our model, enabling more complex controls in the future. Stay tuned for more!

Check out the onboard footage of our Active Apogee Control secondary payload. All 4 airfoils were tilted at 400 ft such that the lift cancels out, and only drag is produced. The flight data helped to inform our model, enabling more complex controls in the future. Stay tuned for more!

The team was thrilled to present our newest project updates to NASA this past week! On to vehicle fabrication! 🚀🤘#CDR #nasausli

The team was thrilled to present our newest project updates to NASA this past week! On to vehicle fabrication! 🚀🤘#CDR #nasausli

Making time to catch up with old teachers this holiday season! It’s always a good time to talk aerospace!

Making time to catch up with old teachers this holiday season! It’s always a good time to talk aerospace!

Merry Chrysler! #CDR🔜

Merry Chrysler! #CDR🔜

Next up on our team spotlight is Meredith! She’s a third year electrical engineer with a passion for all things aerospace and enjoys going on flights in her free time!

Next up on our team spotlight is Meredith! She’s a third year electrical engineer with a passion for all things aerospace and enjoys going on flights in her free time!

Olin, we have liftoff! Big strides made by the team as we were able to get our subscale flying this weekend!

Olin, we have liftoff! Big strides made by the team as we were able to get our subscale flying this weekend!

Artemis launch and NASA PDR presentation all in one day! What a time to be alive 🚀

Artemis launch and NASA PDR presentation all in one day! What a time to be alive 🚀

Next up on the spotlight is one of our Mech E Juniors, Van! Buddy absolutely shreds on the track and in the Lab! #🇬🇷 #Himothée

Next up on the spotlight is one of our Mech E Juniors, Van! Buddy absolutely shreds on the track and in the Lab! #🇬🇷 #Himothée

Starting off Friday with a member highlight! Meet Matthew, VADL Vice President. On the team, Matthew handles electromechanical systems and simulations. Off the team, he enjoys live music, sports, and arguing about aerodynamics on Broadway! #him

Starting off Friday with a member highlight! Meet Matthew, VADL Vice President. On the team, Matthew handles electromechanical systems and simulations. Off the team, he enjoys live music, sports, and arguing about aerodynamics on Broadway! #him

Super excited to finally have our new website up and running! The team has put a lot of effort into this year’s NASA USLI Mission so far and we are excited to show everyone what we are about!

Super excited to finally have our new website up and running! The team has put a lot of effort into this year’s NASA USLI Mission so far and we are excited to show everyone what we are about!

Team morale is high after winning the Millennium Falcon contract. Happy TN Makers Fest! 🚀🚀

Team morale is high after winning the Millennium Falcon contract. Happy TN Makers Fest! 🚀🚀

T-3 days until Proposal submission ✍️

VADL members are full steam ahead with the #usli in our recently revitalized workspace. As past projects hang above our heads, we dare to fly higher. #nasastudentlaunch

T-3 days until Proposal submission ✍️

VADL members are full steam ahead with the #usli in our recently revitalized workspace. As past projects hang above our heads, we dare to fly higher. #nasastudentlaunch

PDR presentation wrapped up! Time to finish subscale construction😤

PDR presentation wrapped up! Time to finish subscale construction😤

As this semester comes to a close, we want to give an update on all the progress we’ve made in the last few months. Thanks to our team and everyone involved for a great semester!

As this semester comes to a close, we want to give an update on all the progress we’ve made in the last few months. Thanks to our team and everyone involved for a great semester!

Congratulations to our 2019-2020 team on winning 1st place overall for this years NASA Student Launch competition! While we are disappointed to not have had the opportunity to attend the in person portion of the competition due to Covid-19 we are incredibly grateful for the wealth of learning, experience, and great memories this years competition has brought our team. Big thank you to @NASA and @vanderbiltengineering for your continued support of STEM education and space exploration! #artemisgeneration #NASAStudentLaunch

Congratulations to our 2019-2020 team on winning 1st place overall for this years NASA Student Launch competition! While we are disappointed to not have had the opportunity to attend the in person portion of the competition due to Covid-19 we are incredibly grateful for the wealth of learning, experience, and great memories this years competition has brought our team. Big thank you to @NASA and @vanderbiltengineering for your continued support of STEM education and space exploration! #artemisgeneration #NASAStudentLaunch

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