Hermes

Hermes was a proposed payload rocket in partnership with UT’s Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL) in 2022. Designed to fly upwards of 25k feet while carrying a 20 lbs. payload, Hermes had the potential to be a versatile platform to test experimental flight computers and payload systems.

Polaris II

Polaris II was LRA’s entry for the 2021 - 2022 Spaceport America Cup. It flew to an altitude of 14,000 feet and was successfully recovered. Polaris II is being improved upon for the 2023 Spaceport America Cup to compete in the 30K COTS division.

Polaris I

Polaris I was LRA’s two-stage experimental design for the 2020 - 2021 school year and reached an altitude of 5,782 ft. The rocket flew with a Cesaroni K1440 in the booster stage and a Cesaroni I303 in the sustainer stage. The rocket launched, staged, and recovered successfully and was a huge step forward in LRA’s two stage program.

Syncope

Syncope, the LRA's entry into the 2018 Spaceport America Cup, reached an altitude of 9,201 ft carrying the scientific payload Headrush. Headrush was designed to test the strain of high-G forces on the vena cava. Carrying a custom electronics board designed and built by students, Syncope soared powered by a Cesaroni L1115.

Vargur

Vargur was the LRA's entry in the 2017 IREC competition. Powered by an M-class solid fuel motor, Vargur reached an altitude of 10,000 ft. and Mach 1 while carrying a custom electronics payload, Muninn, which recorded a variety of air-quality parameters throughout the flight.

Nether

The staged systems team's first prototype, Nether was the LRA's first attempt at a serial-staged rocket. Nether successfully launched and staged for the first time in September 3rd of 2016, and has since undergone several successful tests.

Legacy Rockets

Before its re-establishment as a technically focused student organization, the LRA fabricated and launched a number of quirky designs under its high-power divisions. Check out the gallery for some interesting takes on rocket design!