SOLIDS
UCI's internationally competitive solid rocketry teamOUR journey
What began as a small sub-team within the UCI Rocket Project has evolved into something extraordinary. In 2022, UCI Rocket Project Solids officially launched as an independent team dedicated to solid propellant-based rocketry under the mentorship of our advisor, Professor Mark Walter.
In just a few short years, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones that speak to our team’s dedication and expertise. We’ve participated in rigorous design reviews with industry professionals, graduated numerous team members with rocket certifications, completed multiple successful static test fires and test launches, and established our reputation on the international stage through the world-renowned International Rocketry Engineering Competition (IREC).
Our mission is two-fold: (1) To explore the technology and theory of aerospace through international competitive rocketry and (2) To graduate leaders dedicated to a career of ethical engineering service.
our accomplishments
this year 2025-2026
our challenges
INTERNATIONAL ROCKETRY ENGINEERING COMPETITION (IREC)
- Apogee of 10,000 feet
- Dual redundant avionics system
- Student researched and design sugar-propellant rocket
- Air brake system
SPACE DYNAMICS LABORATORY PAYLOAD CHALLENGE
- 4U CubeSat with a fully functional robotic arm and free collection area
- Student developed Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
- Mounted magnetometer and accelerometer
TEAM VIDEO CHALLENGE
- On-board flight footage
- Documentation of design, fabrication, testing, and launch
- Featuring of sponsors
support us
MONETARY DONATIONS
Your donations serve as the lifeblood of our project, enabling us to invest in cutting-edge equipment, technology, and materials essential to developing more sophisticated rockets. Financial support is the best form of aid, providing direct contributions to the overall quality of our rocket and team’s learning experience.
PRODUCT DISCOUNTS AND DONATIONS
Manufacturing Level 1 to Level 3 rockets and competing in international competitions takes significant resources. Discounts or donations on products reduce the costs of fabrication and assembly of our solid rockets. Each and every donation, no matter how large or small, makes a huge difference for our team and propels us to new heights.
GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP
Insights from industry professionals such as critique of designs, manufacturability, material choice, and other technical or operative discretionary issues offer great help. This can be done through assisting our preliminary design reviews, critical design reviews, or safety checks of our lab.
If you are interested in supporting us through any of these options, please visit our CONTACT US page or click the link below.
our team
five sub-systems
launch vehicle
Handles material selection, design, simulations, manufacturing, and testing of structures
Avionics
Constructs and programs a reliable, dual-redundant recovery system
experimental
Researches and prototypes propulsion systems, air brakes, and manufacturing techniques
payload
Engineers a modular 4U CubeSat equipped with sensors that measure temperature, vibrations, location, etc.
operations
Governs testing and launch logistics, funds, sponsorships and mentorships, and documentation
leadership
faculty advisor
management
DR. MARK WALTER
Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
ANTOINE NGUYEN
Project Manager
SEAN LIEM
Chief Engineer
LEILANI ZAGROSS
Chief Engineer
sub-system leads
NISHALI DESAI
Launch Vehicle Co-Lead
HALEY KAY
Launch Vehicle Co-Lead
ARYA GILL
Avionics Software Lead
DEON NGUYEN
Avionics Hardware Lead
JESUS A. ROBLES
Experimental Lead
YIFI WU
Payload Lead
PHIVAN NGUYEN
Operations Lead