Who Are We
Who Are We
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Illinois Tech Rocketry is a SEDS USA chapter at the Illinois Institute of Technology. We are a student-led organization with 70+ members dedicated to hands-on engineering projects, professional development, and STEM outreach.
Since its founding in 2020, Illinois Tech Rocketry has grown from a small group of students into a multidisciplinary engineering organization dedicated to advancing collegiate rocketry. Discover our story below.
Our technical programs span multiple areas of collegiate rocketry. The IREC team competes annually at the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), designing 10k COTS high-power rockets equipped with scientific payloads and active airbrake systems. Meanwhile, the Liquid team designs, builds, and tests liquid-fueled rockets for FAR's Dollar Per Foot competition. In parallel, our Research and Development team focuses on advancing high-altitude dual-stage rockets, custom flight computers, recovery systems, and other technologies that expand our team's technical capabilities.
Beyond technical projects, we support member development through launch certification training, professional development and industry engagement opportunities, while inspiring the next generation of engineers through STEM outreach programs with local K–12 schools.
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A sense of the unknown has always lured mankind and the greatest of the unknowns of today is outer space. The terrors, the joys and the sense of accomplishment are epitomized in the space program.
William Shatner
William Shatner
Big Red 3 is the third dual-stages rocket in Big Red series, designed to surpass the performance of Big Red 1 while using same configuration and smaller motors.
On June 6th, 2026, Big Red 3 was successfully launched to 41,788ft at 1,695fps, making it the fastest and highest rocket in club history.
Mini-P 2 is the third dual-stages designed to test new HEI and interstage design for Pioneer 2. It was launched on AeroTech K1800 and K780.
Big Red is ITR's first full-scale dual-stage rocket. The rockets were initially built for the 2022 Spaceport America Cup.
On January 17th, 2023, Big Red 1 was relaunched at Mojave, CA
Pioneer 1 is first full-scale step-down dual-stages rocket designed for Mach 2.5 and 80,000ft
BRAT is a 6-in rocket designed to compete at 2025 IREC. The rocket features a microbiology payload. On April 12th, TYRIDIUM was successfully launched on an Aerotech M2100G, reaching 11,600ft and safely recovered.
04/2025 - mini-Pioneer
04/2025 - mini-Pioneer
MiniPioneer is the first step-down dual-stage rocket designed to test Head End ignition (HEI) system and serve as a test bed for Pioneer I. The rocket features an Aerotech K750ST and K185W
02/2025 - BRAT
02/2025 - BRAT
BRAT is a 3-in flight vehicle designed to test airbrake system. On February 8th, 2025, BRAT was successfully launched on an AeroTech K1103X and safely recovered. The data confirmed that the airbrake deployed all drag flaps as intended.
Big Red 2 is a 4-inch diameter dual-stage rocket designed to test high-altitude recovery system for future mission. The vehicle was successfully launched to and recovered at Friend of Amateur Rocketry on December 14th, 2024. The rocket reached 12,800ft and safely recovered.
Centennial is a dual-stage rocket designed for 2024 Argonia Cup to carry 81 golf balls.. On March 23rd, 2024, Centennial was successfully launched to 10,243ft at 2024 Argonia Cup, makrking the first successful dual-stages launch with ignited sustainer.
Big Red is ITR's first full-scale dual-stage rocket. The rockets were initially built for 2022 Spaceport America Cup. On December 16th, 2023, ITR successfully launched and recovered Big Red at Mojave, CA.
10/2023 - Mini-Red
10/2023 - Mini-Red
Mini-Red was ITR's first dual-stage attempt. The ultimate goal of Mini-Red is to test the wiring and flight computer programming for dual-stage events like stage separation and sustainer ignition while trying our best to reuse the Level 1 rocket kit.
Talon I was built for the 2023 Spaceport America Cup, ITR's first entry at this competition. On June 21st, 2023, ITR successfully launched and recovered Talon I at Lacruz, New Mexico. With an altitude of 9,311 ft and a percent error of 3.5, Talon I placed 18th out of 119 teams competed and 11th out of 67 teams in the 10k COTS division.
Live. Thrust. Repeat was built for the 2022 Argonia Cup with golf ball payload and safely recovered the system at a predetermined location on the launch range. Unfortunately, the team did not attend Argonia Cup due to logistic issues and decided to launch Live. Thrust. Repeat at FAR in August 2022. With an altitude of 12,380 ft, LTR was the highest rocket at the time.
The small team of six decided to set their goal high, looking to compete at NASA’s Space Grant Midwest High-Power Rocket Competition. ITR built and launched Little Red, a 6-inch fiberglass rocket, flying on the L952W, for the competition. On April 18th, 2021, Little Red was successfully launched to 5,500 ft and recovered safely.
Around this time, the team had their eyes on ESRA's IREC competition, which sparked the interest of many group members. However, the team would not begin competing in IREC until two years later.
2020 - Founding
2020 - Founding
In the Fall of 2020, Illinois Tech Rocketry was founded by Andy de Fonseca (AE '22) as an amateur rocket club at the Illinois Insitute of Technology.
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