MCGILL ROCKET TEAM
A group of nine team members, are posing for a photo in an arid, outdoor environment. Behind them stands a tall, slender rocket, predominantly black with a white nose cone, on a launch rail. The team members are holding a large red banner that reads "McGill Rocket Team" and "Thank you to our sponsors," along with various company logos. The individuals are casually dressed, some wearing hats and sunglasses, and they appear to be in good spirits, celebrating their work with the rocket. The sky above is clear and blue.

Project Stella (2017)

Stella 30K COTS

The year 2017 represents McGill's 3rd participation in the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition. Stella marks our team's first ever participation in the 30,000 ft category, as well as a first ever production of two rockets. The design incorporates a student built carbon fiber airframe and refined separation and recovery mechanism.

A horizontal digital rendering of a sleek, white rocket with a pointed nose cone and gray fins. The mid-section of the rocket features a black band with various white sponsor logos. The word "STELLA" is prominently displayed in red letters on the white section of the rocket, with thin red horizontal stripes above and below it.

The aero-structure subsystems are manufactured in-house through a newly developed resin infusion process. This was used to manufacture the body tubes of the vehicle. The new manufacturing method resulted in a significantly higher strength-weight ratios and significantly reduced lead time in production.

The recovery subsystems feature a dual pyrotechnic deployment out of a single separation point in the airframe. The two parachutes emerge separately from each side of the separation point.

A student developed electronic-based avionics suite is used as the primary ignition method. In addition, two Stratologgers are used as redundant detonation systems.

Finally, the payload subsystem is an ejectable reusable aircraft formerly known as A.D.A.M (Autonomous Deployable Aerial Mechanism). A.D.A.M. is a proof of concept that could be utilized for geographic mapping, meteorological sampling, and spectroscopic studies.

Design Cycle
#3
2016 - 2017
Length
12.67 ft
3.86 m
Outer Diameter
530.00 in
1,346.20 cm
Liftoff Weight
84.10 lb
38.15 kg
Average Thrust
768.80 lbf
3.42 kN
Max Mach Number
1.51
1,698.75 ft/s
513.84 m/s
Average Thrust
30,054.00 ft
9.16 km
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio
14.10
Propulsion Type
Solid
Cesaroni 03400

Results:

Spaceport America Cup 2017:

  • 30K Category: 3rd/6
  • Overall: 51th/82

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A tall, slender rocket, primarily black with a red nose cone and red fins, stands upright on a launch rail in a desert-like landscape. The rocket has "ARIES" and other text visible on its side. To the right of the rocket, a white A-frame sign reads "LAUNCH RAIL 3". The ground is sandy with sparse, low-lying vegetation, and the sky above is clear blue.
Project Aeris (2017)

6/16/2017

Aeris is our team's 10,000 ft category COTS solid motor rocket, which boasts a reliable, simple, but effective design. The design incorporates a student built carbon fiber airframe, refined separation and recovery mechanism, and a scientific payload.

 A white rocket with a pointed nose cone and small fins is resting horizontally on a launch rail in a dry, desert-like landscape. The rocket's body is covered with various small colored markings and logos. The launch rail, made of metal and wood, extends into the foreground, casting a shadow on the sandy ground. Sparse green bushes and other desert vegetation are scattered across the scene, with distant mountains visible under a clear blue sky.
Project Blanche (2018)

7/10/2018

The 2018 IREC marks McGill’s 4th year participating in the competition. The Project Blanche is the successor to Project Aeris, the team’s 10,000 ft COTS category entry.