A group of students from the University of Southern California made a breakthrough in space technology by designing an Aftershock II rocket that set several world records.
The rocket reached an altitude of over 140,000 meters, far surpassing previous achievements by amateur spacecraft. Designed and built by students at USC’s Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, the rocket was launched Oct. 20 from a desert site in Nevada.
After liftoff, Aftershock II broke the sound barrier in just two seconds and reached a top speed of about Mach 5.5. One of the keys to success was an innovative thermal protection system that allowed the rocket to withstand extreme temperatures during re-entry into the atmosphere. The students used a new type of heat-resistant paint and titanium propellers that allowed the rocket to survive the landing virtually intact.
This achievement was the result of years of work by the students, who designed and assembled the rocket themselves. They faced a number of engineering challenges that were successfully solved through innovative approaches and hard work. The success of the Aftershock II project demonstrates the high level of training of future engineers and opens new perspectives for the development of student space engineering. It also inspires other young researchers to create their own space projects.
