The Iowa State Cyclone Rocketry Club proves itself in the skies, achieving milestones and showcasing innovation, teamwork and dedication.
This past weekend, the club participated in the Iowa Society of Amateur Rocketeers (ISOAR) launch, and several members earned level 1, level 2 and level 3 High Powered Rocketry (HPR) certifications.
The achievements resulted from preparation and the collaborative spirit of its members, according to Sydney Turner, a senior in aerospace engineering and the club’s president. This is one of the club’s various events throughout the year.
“We encourage our members to build their own personal rockets as it helps provide an overview of the entire rocket and how the systems work together,” Turner said.
Weekly work sessions allow the experienced members to guide newer ones through assembling the rockets.
“It was super cool to see everyone getting their certifications,” Collin Brumm, a club member, said. “It would’ve taken a lot longer to get them without learning from the club.”
Blumm emphasized that getting a certification provides enough knowledge about rocketry to contribute to the club, regardless of one’s major.
While academics play a role in the club’s success, prior knowledge is not required.
“I always preach this to my members, especially new ones looking to get involved,” Turner said. “We will teach you everything you need to know. You are not expected to know anything and just need to have the willingness to learn and be passionate about it.”
Turner holds the distinction of being the first woman president of the Cyclone Rocketry Club.
Turner explained that her background directly informs her role in the club. With an understanding in propulsion, aerodynamics and flight mechanics, she can lead evaluations, oversee subteam collaboration and address challenges.
Turner also explained how academic disciplines play various roles in the rocketry club’s success. This is where members contribute to the design, simulation and testing processes.
Aerospace engineering students provide knowledge in propulsion, aerodynamics and flight mechanics—key areas for rocket optimization.
Mechanical engineering students focus on structures, manufacturing and thermal analysis, while electrical and computer engineering students contribute to avionics, telemetry and programming systems that take part in monitoring and controlling the rocket.
Subteams like propulsion, structures, avionics, payload and recovery work independently on specific components, yet cross-collaboration is common.
Turner holds leadership meetings with subteam leads to ensure all components integrate seamlessly.
“The club gives students a platform to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world applications, which is both exciting and incredibly beneficial for understanding complex concepts,” Turner said.
The club is preparing for the annual Spaceport America Cup, an event where they will compete in the 10k Student Researched and Developed Hybrid division. The goal is to reach as close to 10,000 feet as possible, and then a score will be given based on altitude accuracy.
This year marks a milestone as the club transitions to using a hybrid motor for the first time, a change from their previous use of solid motors, due to the loss of their propellant mixing lab.
“To do this, we have our propulsion team design our motor to overshoot the altitude and we fine-tune it with airbrakes,” Turner said.
In addition to preparing for the Spaceport America Cup, Iowa State’s rocketry club is working on several other projects.
Each year, they build a test vehicle to trial new subsystems before integrating them into their competition rocket. This year’s test vehicle aims to reach 30,000 feet—a goal the club has yet to achieve.
For the first time, the club is also participating in the Argonia Cup, a two-stage high-altitude competition.
At this competition, the goal is to design and launch a rocket containing golf balls in the sustainer and achieve the highest altitude possible. The rocket must also be in a well enough condition to fly again, according to the Argonia Cup rules.
Turner’s leadership focuses on mentorship and inclusivity as the Rocketry Club collaborates and innovates. Turner encourages members to balance their academic and extracurriculars through structured planning and support networks.
Turner credits the club with shaping her career aspirations.
“This club has helped solidify my decision of what I wanted to do after college,” Turner said. “I remember going to my first rocket launch and seeing all kinds of rockets take flight. There’s truly nothing like it. Seeing and hearing your first rocket launch is indescribable—it’s a moment that stays with you forever.”
