MSU Space Cowboys achieve success at national competition
July 15, 2014
Mississippi State University’s Space Cowboys rocket team triumphed at this year’s NASA-sponsored University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) competition.
The Space Cowboys placed second out of 21 teams at multiday competition at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
The team’s launch vehicle, “Major Tom,” reached 14,664 feet above ground level at the competition. More impressively, the rocket broke the sound barrier after the ignition of the second stage’s motor. It reached 1,075 mph, which made “Major Tom” the highest and fastest rocket at the competition.
Joseph St. Columbia, chief engineer for the Space Cowboys, says he was ecstatic when he discovered that the Space Cowboys had placed second. The competition began in August with 50 schools around the United States. Only 15 reached the launch stage in Utah.
“Just to be among the final few was impressive since this was our first year doing such a complex two-stage vehicle, and then to place second was just indescribable,” St. Columbia said.
Even if the Space Cowboys hadn’t placed second, St. Columbia believes they are one of the best design teams in the nation.
“The Space Cowboys holds its own against the MITs, the Vanderbilts, the Penn States, and the Stanfords. The proof of this is ‘Major Tom,'” St. Columbia said. “‘Major Tom’ is one of the largest and fastest high-powered rockets that has been seen in the competition in the past five years. You know you have built something truly spectacular when on NASA TV, the NASA officials say, ‘Holy smokes, that was epic!'”
NASA’s USLI aims to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and explorers. Each team is given the task of designing and building a rocket that is capable of carrying working science payloads to a certain altitude before returning safely to Earth. The challenge also requires each team to maintain a website to document the eight-month experience.
During this time, teams must plan local education engagement campaigns to share their eagerness for rocketry. This year, the team traveled throughout Mississippi and to neighboring states to show students in elementary, middle and high school how to build model rockets. In addition to getting the students excited about engineering, team members also work to show them that they can pursue engineering, too.
NASA judges evaluated each team’s rocket design based on technical design reviews, the results from the rockets’ flights, educational engagement activities in their home community, a team-built website and a final written report from the students.
Established in 2006, the Space Cowboys team is advised by aerospace engineering professor Keith Koenig.
The 2014 team Members are (by hometown):
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Stephen Westberg, a senior aerospace engineering major, is the propulsion, recovery and trajectory analysis subteam leader.
BATESVILLE, Miss. – Margaret “Margie” Woodall, a senior aerospace engineering major, is a member of the structures/propulsion subteam.
BRANDON, Miss. – Marian “Tinsley” Colmer, a senior aerospace engineering major, is a member of the structures/propulsion subteam.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Augustus “Gus” Buonviri, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is a part of the structures/propulsion subteam.
CORINTH, Miss. – James Kelly, an aerospace engineering graduate student, is a graduate adviser for the Space Cowboys.
CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – Elisabeth Hoirup, a freshman aerospace engineering major, is a member of the propulsion, recovery and trajectory analysis subteam.
DURI, Indonesia – Listiawan Waskito-Hadi, a senior aerospace engineering major, is the structures/propulsion subteam leader.
GERMANTOWN, Tenn. – Austin Hughes, a junior aerospace engineering major, is a member of the propulsion, recovery and trajectory analysis subteam.
GREENSBORO, Ala. – Cayla Hummel, a freshman aerospace engineering major, is a part of the structures/propulsion subteam.
GREENWOOD, Miss. – Philip Douglas, a senior aerospace engineering major, is a member of the aerodynamics subteam.
HAMILTON, Ala. – Benjamin Taylor, a mechanical engineering graduate student, is a graduate adviser and part of the aerodynamics subteam.
HELENA, Ark. – Joseph St. Columbia, a senior aerospace engineering major, is the chief engineer for the team.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Eric Stallcup, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is part of the electronics subteam. Michael Spence, a freshman aerospace engineering major, is part of the structures/propulsion subteam.
JACKSON, Miss. – Deanna Brown, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is a member of the outreach subteam. Reed Clay, a freshman aerospace engineering major, is a part of the structures/propulsion subteam.
LAUREL, Miss. – Jacob Stephens, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is a member of the propulsion, recovery and trajectory analysis subteam.
MADISON, Ala. – Peter Wetzel, a junior aerospace engineering major, is the acting chief engineer for the team.
MADISON, Miss. – Mary Kate Smith, a senior aerospace engineering major, is a part of the propulsion, recovery and trajectory analysis subteam.
MERIDIAN, Miss. – Sean Offenberger, a senior aerospace engineering major, is a member of the structures/propulsion subteam.
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. – Shane Ruiz, a freshman aerospace engineering major, is a member of the structures/propulsion subteam.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Amy Sanford, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is part of the outreach subteam.
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Johnie Sublett, a junior aerospace engineering major, is a part of the propulsion, recovery and trajectory analysis subteam.
PETAL, Miss. – Cody Smith, a senior electrical engineering major, is a member of the electronics subteam.
POPLARVILLE, Miss. – Joshua Bowman, a senior aerospace engineering major, is the aerodynamics subteam leader. Torrey Harriel, a a graduate student in aerospace engineering, is a member of the electronics subteam.
SLIDELL, La. – Timothy McGrath, a junior aerospace engineering major, is project manager for the team.
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Laurel Marsh, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is a part of the aerodynamics subteam.
The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu.
By: Jen Nguyen