HomeEventsUSC Students Break Amateur Altitude Record with Aftershock II Rocket

USC Students Break Amateur Altitude Record with Aftershock II Rocket

A New Milestone in Student Rocketry

The USC (University of Southern California) Rocket Propulsion Lab (USCRPL) has set a groundbreaking record with its latest rocket, Aftershock II. Designed and built entirely by students at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the rocket surpassed the previous altitude record of 380,000 feet set in 2004, achieving an astonishing height of 470,000 feet. 

This milestone positions Aftershock II as the highest-flying amateur rocket in history, reaffirming USCRPL’s leadership in student rocketry.

The launch, conducted on October 20 at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, showcased multiple engineering innovations. Aftershock II is equipped with the most powerful solid-propellant motor ever made by students and a robust thermal protection system, including titanium-coated fins and advanced protective paint.

 These features ensured its survival through hypersonic speeds, reaching Mach 5.5 at a velocity of 5,283 ft/s.

Engineering Excellence

Custom avionics and data integration systems allowed real-time tracking and recovery. “This project overcame many technical challenges,” said Ryan Kraemer, USCRPL’s executive engineer. The success demonstrates students’ ability to tackle industry-level problems and advance amateur rocketry to new heights.

USCRPL continues its legacy of pushing boundaries, inspiring future leaders in aerospace engineering. As Dean Yannis Yortsos noted, their achievements are translating into startups shaping the future of space exploration.

viterbischool.usc.edu

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