Carbon Fiber Rocket Soars to Over 10,000 Feet

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Blackout Carbon Fiber Rocket Project

What was the goal of the Blackout rocket project with RIT's Launch Initiative?

The Blackout rocket was developed by the Launch Initiative student team at Rochester Institute of Technology to compete in the 2021 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC). The goal was to design and build a carbon fiber rocket capable of reaching a target altitude of 10,000 feet above ground level using a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) propulsion system.

What are the key specifications of the Blackout rocket?

The Blackout rocket measures 10.5 feet in length and weighs 64.125 lbs when fully loaded. It is constructed from custom carbon fiber materials, including precision-cut 0.125” DragonPlate carbon fiber sheets for the fins, which contribute to its lightweight and stable design.

How high did the Blackout rocket fly during its test launch?

During its test launch in late May, the Blackout rocket reached an altitude of 10,234 feet, surpassing its original goal of 10,000 feet. All design elements and systems performed as projected, resulting in a successful and safe flight.

What role did DragonPlate carbon fiber materials play in the rocket's construction?

DragonPlate supplied custom carbon fiber materials for the Blackout rocket, including 0.125” precision pressed carbon fiber sheets used to manufacture the rocket's fins. These lightweight, precision-cut sheets provided stability and contributed to the rocket's reduced weight and improved aerodynamics. Carbon fiber was also used in the nose and body to further enhance performance.

Why is carbon fiber advantageous for aerospace and rocketry applications?

Carbon fiber is highly valued in aerospace and rocketry due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and stability under temperature fluctuations. In the Blackout rocket, these properties enabled the team to maximize performance, reduce overall weight, and ensure structural integrity during high-altitude flight.

How did the use of carbon fiber impact the Blackout rocket's competition readiness?

The integration of custom carbon fiber composites and advanced avionics allowed the Blackout rocket to exceed its altitude goal and perform reliably in testing. This successful launch gave the RIT Launch Initiative team confidence as they prepared for the IREC competition, demonstrating the effectiveness of carbon fiber in competitive rocketry.

2021 RIT Rocket Team Recently, DragonPlate was asked to collaborate with a student organization on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus that focuses on researching and developing competitive carbon fiber rockets. Launch Initiative, as they are known, is a team of young engineers that manufacture competitive rockets with the goal of preparing students for careers in aerospace.

Creating a Carbon Fiber Rocket

The team at Launch Initiative has worked for months to design and develop a carbon fiber rocket to compete in the 2021 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC). Blackout will compete in the COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) solid or hybrid rocket propulsion system category with a target altitude of 10,000 feet above ground level.

Built from nose to fin with custom carbon fiber materials, Blackout is 10.5 feet and weighs just 64.125 lbs. fully loaded. Each section of the design has undergone extensive research and analysis to improve its performance.

Advantages of Carbon Fiber in Aerospace Applications

Carbon Fiber Rocket Fins Carbon fiber materials are highly suited for aerospace applications due to their remarkable strength, durability, and stability in temperature swings. The students who have engineered Blackout understand these benefits and have gone to great lengths to incorporate carbon fiber in as many applications possible.

For example, Blackout features custom carbon fiber fins manufactured from DragonPlate 0.125” precision pressed carbon fiber sheets. These lightweight sheets were precision cut to fit the fin can assembly and provide stability for the rocket. In addition, innovative uses for carbon fiber were designed into the nose and the body of the rocket to improve aerodynamics and reduce the rocket’s weight.

Blackout’s Launch

In late May, Blackout was launched into the sky reaching a reported altitude of 10,234 ft. The rocket’s test launch was a huge victory with all the design elements and systems working as projected to launch the rocket safely and successfully above their goal altitude. The combination of custom carbon fiber composites and advanced avionics system has set the bar for more advancements in carbon fiber rocketry, and will enable to the team to go into their upcoming IREC competition with confidence.

DragonPlate’s Carbon Fiber Solutions

DragonPlate is a U.S. based manufacture of custom carbon fiber composites. Our creative and innovative team designs and manufactures custom carbon fiber prototypes for a wide range of products and applications. To learn more about how carbon fiber can benefit your next project, give us a call at 315-252-2559 or contact us via email.