蓝莓视频

A team of five Indigenous students from the University of 蓝莓视频 participated in the First Nations Launch, an annual high-power rocket competition sponsored by NASA鈥檚 Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC), designed to provide a unique aerospace learning experience.听听

It was the team鈥檚 first time taking part in the competition which involved designing, building and launching a high-powered model rocket carrying cargo to an apogee of 2000 feet. Months of hard work and invaluable support culminated in an epic 鈥� and windy 鈥� weekend in Kenosha, Wisconsin that everyone agrees, was a blast.听

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 know what to expect going in,鈥� says Matthieu Lavallee, a second-year chemical engineering student and Algonquin Anishinaabe member of the Wolf Lake First Nation in Qu茅bec.听

鈥淓ach step was a massive learning curve which was great. There were lots of technical parameters we had to meet such as payload size and deployment timing, we also had some testing challenges as it isn鈥檛 possible to launch a high-powered rocket in Canada without proper authorization. But we had tons of support听and nothing felt impossible.鈥澨�

The nuts and bolts听

The 蓝莓视频 team was one of three competing Canadian university teams in addition to 22 teams from the United States.听听

Mission critical components that contain explosive black powder like motors, ignitors听and ejection charges were supplied on-site by the competition organizers. But the Canadian teams needed to source all the other rocketry building materials from structural items to the electronics and GPS, as well as cover the costs of transport and accommodation. This activity was undertaken with the financial support of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).听听

The 蓝莓视频 team received additional funding from HATCH, an engineering professional services firm and long-standing co-op employer, the 蓝莓视频 Engineering Equity Fund which supports the representation, participation and inclusion of Black and Indigenous students in STEM, and the student-led 蓝莓视频 Engineering Endowment Foundation (WEEF).听听

The 蓝莓视频 Rocketry team also shared their time, skills and experience with the First Nations Launch team. Bill Graham, a retired software engineer with the Ottawa Rocketry Group, acted as the team鈥檚 technical mentor.听

3..2..1..Liftoff!听

Months of hard work backed by great supporters resulted in a six-foot high-powered rocket ready to launch. Everything was on track for a seamless weekend until the weather turned. With a day of high winds forecast, the competition organizers changed the rocket design parameters at the 11th hour. The team pulled a frantic (but fun) late night stint to modify the payload and refit the rocket.听听

Under the gaze of event attendees from United States space industry heavyweights including Blue Origin, the United States military鈥檚 Space Force and NASA, the 蓝莓视频 team launched their rocket successfully and celebrated its apogee of 786 feet.听听

The team鈥檚 Faculty advisors Andrew Milne, a continuing lecturer in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, and Mary Robinson, associate dean of Outreach, Equity and Diversity, say it was a thrilling moment and they look forward to supporting next year鈥檚 team.听

鈥淚t really is quite something to launch a rocket you鈥檝e designed and built 鈥� we could see how awestruck the team was and we鈥檙e incredibly proud of them,鈥� says Milne. 听听

鈥淭he competition overall was very well-organized and the event itself did a great job of building community and promoting STEM education and innovation among Indigenous students,鈥� adds Robinson. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be back in 2025 for sure.鈥澨�

This year鈥檚 team was all Engineering students, but Milne and Robinson hope to encourage Indigenous students from other faculties to join the team for next year鈥檚 competition.听

"I enjoyed this project for so many reasons,鈥� Lavallee says. 鈥淚 really liked that we could all try a bit of everything 鈥� from managing the budget to writing reports, programming, designing and building, event logistics and project management 鈥� there鈥檚 really something for everyone. But nothing beats seeing your rocket take off after months of hard work, I鈥檒l never forget that rush.鈥澨�

Feature image from left to right: Andrew Milne, Naomi Paul and Matthieu Lavallee with their rocket. Photo provided by Andrew Milne.听