Validating Thermal Protection Before A Space-Shot Launch

Neil Tewksbury and his team at the University of Southern California Rocket Propulsion Lab want to blast a rocket into space. As part of an unofficial space race among international universities, Tewksbury and his team don’t just want to be the first team to successfully launch; they want to reach an altitude of 100 km (330,000 ft) above sea level with a rocket made up completely of components that they manufacture themselves. They only get to build one or two rockets every year, so testing components on the ground is essential to building viable rockets.