Courtesy Photo | Team members from the U.S. Military Academy gather as they prepare to compete against...... read more read more
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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Future Army leaders looked to the high ground while competing against other teams near the Rocket City as part of NASA’s 25th annual Student Launch Challenge competition.
More than 10 U.S. Military Academy cadets from West Point, N.Y., competed against nearly 800 students from middle schools, high schools and universities during NASA’s 25th annual Student Launch Challenge competition, May 4, at Bragg Farms in Toney, just 30 minutes north of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
The cadets launched a high-powered amateur rocket with a scientific payload to an altitude between 3,500 and 6,000 feet, before it safely parachuted back to Earth. NASA’s annual rocket competition hosted more than 50 teams from across the United States and Puerto Rico.
“The journey has been fascinating,” said Lt. Col. Jacob W. Capps, an associate professor in the Physics and Nuclear Engineering Department at the U.S. Military Academy and advisor for the West Point team. “What I see from the cadets is a constant drive to improve. Every time they mess up, they get back up and try again. They had an explosion on one rocket test, they had one separate during launch, and another completely failed. But they did not give up, no matter the circumstance.
“They acknowledged all their challenges and got right back at it until they finally succeeded,” he added.
Along with West Point, the team was supported by U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command personnel who assisted them with the process from design through development.
During the competition, eligible teams compete for prizes and awards and are scored in nearly a dozen categories including safety; vehicle design; social media presence; and science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, engagement.
“After all their hard work, these cadets really see this as a celebration of all their hard work,” Capps said. “It is celebration of finally making it here and their dedication and commitment to excellence. When they leave here, I know they are going to be inspired to do it again and inspire the next generation.
“I am also excited to see the other teams that are here and how our West Point cadets stack up against them,” he added. “And every year, all the time, we are built to beat the Navy team. We are excited to have the opportunity to beat Navy this year. Our leaders are strong, our technology is advanced, and our physics and aerospace engineering skills are honed. Go Army, beat Navy.”
With support from the USMA and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Capps said the competition took them into a process from design through development.
The cadets also participated in a Rocket Fair event Friday at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville. The Rocket Fair allowed the cadets and their fellow competitors to showcase their rockets while answering questions from more than 5,000 attendees.
“I love how diverse this team is,” said USMA Cadet Matthew Dupuis, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering who serves as team leader. “We have members from almost every department at West Point. Everyone has bought into one vision and one mindset with the team and having a community of aerospace is what we are about. Being in something bigger than myself and impacting others is amazing. While leading this team, I have learned how to deal with people and take different ideas and make the best product.
“Being at a rocket fair in the Rocket City feels incredible,” he added. “To be able to represent West Point and the Army here and show our capabilities against other schools and universities is truly an honor.”
It is a hands-on, research-based, engineering activity and culminates each year with a final launch.
For the cadets, the launch was the culminating event of the 9-month long challenge providing hands-on research and development of rocket propulsion systems in support of NASA research.
“I love seeing our new team members here,” said USMA Cadet Ellery Doyna, a junior studying physics who is participating in her third year at the competition. “They are all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and say how amazing this weekend is. There are so many like me who are interested in the same craft, so I enjoy seeing that. And I just love the rocket fair in general.”
Doyna said everyone is a little nervous because there are a lot of things that could go wrong.
“I can say being on the team for three years has shaped my whole entire perspective of not only West Point, but service in general,” Doyna said. “Our team does a ton of outreach so being able to go out in the community and represent, not only our team but also the Army, to show the public that you can also take your weird niche passions like rocketry and be normal. Being on the team is expanding my sphere of influence and showing other people they can also accomplish really cool and great things.
“Being able to come here and be around people who also love to do this is just unbelievable,” she added.
Winners will be announced June 9 during a virtual awards ceremony once all teams’ flight data has been verified.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2025 08:28 |
| Story ID: | 497452 |
| Location: | HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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