Students gain practical, team-based experience in designing, building, and launching high-powered rockets, culminating in a real-world launch event.
This UCLA Summer Sessions program introduces high school students to the world of rocketry through a team-based, hands-on prototyping and real-world testing process. Participants will learn the fundamentals of engineering design and communication, utilizing Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) tools like SolidWorks and OpenRocket for rocket design. Students will gain practical experience by building rockets using various manufacturing techniques such as composite-material layups, 3D printing, and laser-cutting. The curriculum also includes learning electronics and sensor-programming in Arduino for flight data analysis. The program culminates in the launch of a final project rocket, aiming to reach several thousand feet high, at locations like the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area or the Mojave Desert. Students will also explore how these acquired skills and knowledge apply to the aerospace industry through physics-based 'Rocket Deep-Dive' presentations and potentially engage with aerospace professionals and visit companies.
A typical day involves a mix of classroom instruction on engineering design fundamentals and rocketry, hands-on work in the Makerspace utilizing CAD software, 3D printers, and laser cutters to build rocket components, and team-based project work.
This program is ideal for high school students with a keen interest in rocketry, aerospace engineering, and hands-on design, who are looking for an introductory experience in a university setting.
UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, CA
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