Daedalus Dynamics Rocketry

In 2025, I founded the Daedalus Dynamics Rocketry Team and recruited eight friends to compete in the American Rocketry Challenge(ARC).

During the season, we built around half a dozen rockets and learned about design, assembly, and material properties.

We used both conventional materials (tubing, pre-cut fins) as well as custom-made materials like printed nose cones and laser-cut fins. During this project, I used Onshape to design parts of the rocket and used OpenRocket to simulate test launches. We were restricted to F-class motors and lower grades of propulsion, so weight reduction and proper center of mass were critical to a successful flight.

We used spray paint and varnish to seal and protect the rockets, as well as adding a unique flair to each craft. Out of the half-dozen rockets, two (Prometheus and Ironclad) were especially successful, with one launch that reached 749m out of the 750m target gap and was two seconds within our time goal.

In addition to coordinating launches, CADing designs and assembling the finished product, I gathered us sponsorships from Gamescape San Francisco, Dots Tea House, and Cliff’s Variety through emails and in-person meetings with storeowners.

We learned a lot from this season and are excited to fly once more with updated craft.

Photo gallery