** Student teams launch rockets from Spaceport America<\/strong> near Las Cruces, New Mexico: NMSU Atomic Aggies & Civil Air Patrol Launch Rockets at Spaceport America | Spaceport America – Feb.17.2026<\/a><\/p>\n Students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the Albuquerque Heights Composite Squadron (a.k.a. Spirit Squadron), unit NM-083 of the Civil Air Patrol, completed a series of rocket launches at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s event was coordinated in part by NMSU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Joshua Davila, who serves as the Atomic Aggies\u2019 (the competition rocketry team of NMSU) National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Section #982 President and Solid Propulsions Lead. In addition to identifying the NAR fliers from NMSU, Davila also involved seven American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) teams throughout the region to promote Saturday\u2019s event as an opportunity to conduct preliminary launches.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe, the Atomic Aggies, are incredibly proud of the growing community of local rocketry enthusiasts we are building connections with,\u201d said Davila. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to have local American rocketry challenge teams joining us for launches at Spaceport America.\u201d The NMSU students who launched represented the Atomic Aggies Rocketry Team. Of the team members in attendance, 10 earned their Level 1 certifications from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) for succeeding in launching their rockets up to 1,700 feet. Of the 11 rockets launched from the spaceport, 10 achieved successful flights.<\/em><\/p>\n Led by Lt. Col. Michael O\u2019Dell, the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol team members were able to launch their rocket three times, completing the preliminary work for their ARC launches. The ARC is the world\u2019s largest student rocket competition, and boasts over 1,100 middle and high school teams who will be competing at Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, Va., in May of 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe annual American Rocketry Challenge provides our Civil Air Patrol cadets a five-month long hands-on science and engineering challenge, and they love it,\u201d O\u2019Dell commented. \u201cI brag about our students and how bright they are, but for me this represents another opportunity; to showcase New Mexico. This group and those that follow will all go off to universities and set loftier goals and with this experience coupled with these types of partnerships, we can keep some of them right here in our state.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n …<\/em><\/p>\n ** The latest\u00a0newsletter of the Mojave Air & Space Port<\/a> reports on an upcoming advanced rocketry competition event<\/strong>: FAR\u2011OUT Returns to the Mojave Desert This May | Ascend Mojave Newsletter – March.2026 (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n The Friends of Amateur Rocketry \u2013 Oxidizers Uninhibited Tournament<\/strong> (FAR\u2011OUT)<\/strong> is back, bringing one of the most innovative grassroots rocketry competitions in the country to the Mojave Desert. This first\u2011of\u2011its\u2011kind event showcases commercial\u2011off\u2011the\u2011shelf (COTS) hybrids, research hybrids, and research liquid engines as teams compete to most accurately hit a pre\u2011simulated \u201ccontract\u201d apogee. With scoring groups ranging from 5,000\u2019 to 110,000\u2019\u2014and exhibition flights reaching up to 240,000\u2019\u2014FAR\u2011OUT highlights precision engineering at every level. Teams may also static fire on\u2011site to demonstrate motor efficiency.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The tournament kicks off Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with an opening ceremony and technical conference at the Stuart Witt Event Center at Mojave Air & Space Port. The conference features poster sessions, podium presentations, and industry tours with local aerospace partners. Setup and test days run Thursday and Friday, followed by three full days of launches from May 30 through June 1 at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry site. FAR\u2011OUT continues to grow as a celebration of experimental rocketry, hands\u2011on engineering, and the unique flight\u2011test ecosystem of Mojave.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n For more information visit: <\/em>faroutlaunch.org<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Info on the teams can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some recent rocketry items of interest: ** Reach for the Stars is holding the 18th RFTS National Rocket Competition. Students 10 to 18 years of age compete in groups of 12 or more by launching model rockets available from RFTS. Details available on the RFTS website. ** Student teams launch rockets from Spaceport America near … Continue reading Rocketry: RFTS rocket competition + NM spaceport hosts student launches + FAR\u2011OUT rockets at Mojave<\/span> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/NMSU_group1-1030x687-1-500x333.webp\")
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