OSU Student Competition Rocketry Team Test Flight (IREC 2026 Test Flight)
This Saturday, the Oregon State University Student Competition Rocketry Team (SCRT) launched "Subject To Change", our competition full-scale launch vehicle, from the high desert in Brothers, Oregon. Powered by an N-class motor, we reached a peak apogee of 12,600 ft. above ground level (AGL). The vehicle also featured live-video streamed during launch!
This launch was an opportunity to learn and validate the incredible amount of work our team has put in over the past year. The rocket achieved stable flight, and our avionics and active-control software performed exactly as designed throughout the mission. While the Blade Extending Altitude Variance System (BEAVS) was unable to actuate due to a mechanical issue caused by high Gs on the assembly, the flight provided invaluable data that will directly improve our system as we work toward our 10k goal. The vehicle also experienced an off-nominal descent due to a combination of factors affecting full main parachute deployment. Despite this, all sections of the rocket were successfully recovered. The team is identifying root causes and implementing improvements as we stay on track to compete at IREC 2026 in Midland, Texas.
Thank you to Oregon Rocketry for hosting the Spring Thunder event in Brothers, Oregon; the College of Engineering; and our sponsors and donors for supporting our team throughout this journey. And thank you to everyone who cheered us on in person and on our livestream. We are incredibly excited for what comes next. Catch us at IREC 2026 🚀