WHAT IS LAUNCHPAD?

Launchpad is a student-led engineering initiative housed within the Programs branch of STARS.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to expand access to engineering education for youth across the Rio Grande Valley by offering mentorship, technical training, and hands-on project-based learning.

Community Focused

  • No experience required

  • No membership fees; open application

  • Community presence through tabling at public events and school visits

  • Online accessibility: recorded lectures, open documentation

Project Vortex will be the first high school student rocketry team of this scale in the Rio Grande Valley.

PROJECT VORTEX

COTS L3 Solid Rocket

Student-led build, and recovery

Target: 10,000 ft flight

Total impulse: 10,663 N-sec (2,397 lb-sec)

Peak Thrust: 595 lbs

Project Vortex is a student-led rocketry initiative by the Launchpad Branch of the South Texas Astronomical Society.

This program empowers local high school students to design, build, and launch a high-powered rocket using a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) kit, with a target altitude of 10,000 feet.

As the first accessible high-power rocketry project in the Rio Grande Valley, Project Vortex offers students hands-on experience in aerospace engineering, supported by mentorship and technical training.

AT FULL SCALE

FALL
(AUG-NOV)

- ADVERTISEMENT PERIOD, APPLICATIONS OPEN

- WORKSHOPS ON HIGH POWER ROCKETRY

- TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS

LAUNCH WINDOW CLOSED

WINTER
(DEC-FEB)

- KIT INSTRUCTION BEGINS

- GUEST SPEAKER SERIES

- L0. L1 LAUNCH

- TEST READINESS REVIEW DELIVERABLE

LAUNCH WINDOW OPEN,
WEATHER STANDBY

SPRING
(APR-JUNE)

- BUILD PERIOD CONT.

- TEST READINESS FINAL CONFIRMATION

- FINAL DOCUMENTATION DELIVERABLE

- LAUNCH

LAUNCH WINDOW OPEN

Meet the Team

  • Portrait of a woman with wavy blonde hair and a nose piercing, wearing a red top and a necklace, smiling in a wooden outdoor setting.

    Jaqueline Peña

    CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

  • A young man in a suit and tie standing outdoors with trees and buildings in the background.

    Sabian Cardenas

    ENGINEER MENTOR

  • Smiling woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a blue top, standing among green plants in a greenhouse or botanical setting.

    Julio Perez

    CO-LEAD

  • Young man with short black hair, smiling, wearing a blue suit and light blue shirt, standing outside near a brick building with greenery.

    Rayyan farooqui

    CO-LEAD

TEAM STRUCTURE

Subteam Descriptions

  • Avionics decisions will include deciding on flight computer, gyroscope, altimeter, GPS, and further additions on expected performance. Avionics will have to consider deployment of recovery mechanisms and work with Operations to consider ignition, flight, and recovery.

  • Structures must ensure all pieces of the rocket are secure, working closely with other teams to ensure the rocket’s expected operation will occur smoothly in flight. Design and manufacturing of the components will be under the structures operation, they will be expected to ensure all components are rated under a safety factor. Integration of all systems will pass through the structures team.

  • This role is responsible for fundraising, sponsorship development, and building community partnerships to support the mission of Launchpad. The Project Vortex requires an entrepreneurial mindset to promote student work, expand the program’s visibility, and develop creative strategies for public engagement. This lead would work closely with the technical and curriculum teams to ensure that public representation aligns with the project’s goals and values.

  • Operations will decide flight trajectory and recovery deployment (including main and drogue). Operations will work their deployment systems in collaboration with Avionics, as this action will be dependent on altitude and tilt. Structures will be present in integration of the system.

APPLICATION

The application for the 2025-2026 school year will become available in the fall.

Requirements:

  • Must be a high school student in the Rio Grande Valley.

  • Show interest and curiosity for systems engineering, mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering.

  • 1 recommendation letter from a STEM subject teacher

For more information please contact programs@starsocietyrgv.org

SPONSORSHIP TIERS

  • We gratefully accept donations of materials, services, equipment, or expertise. Recognition is based on estimated value and aligned with our three sponsorship tiers.

    All in-kind sponsors receive:

    • Logo placement on all Project Vortex flight hardware that uses the donated product or service

    • Logo featured on the website and technical report

    • Logo on official website and technical report

    • Social media shout-out (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)

    • Name displayed on community sponsor banner at launch events and STEM fairs

    • Recognition in classroom visit slides (inspiring future engineers!)

    • Optional feature in “Sponsor Spotlight” social posts

    • Small logo placed on rocket airframe

    • Invitation to in-person launch event + student showcase

    • Thank you message in final student video

    • Recognition in local press releases or event programs

    • Featured on sponsor wall during outreach exhibitions

    • Exclusive access to pre-release technical milestones and student Q&A session

    • Official project partner

    • Prominent logo on rocket body, team shirts, and outreach banners

    • Option to host a guest lecture or STEM workshop with our team

    • Logo placement on all printed promotional materials

    • Featured partner highlight in final project video and public presentations

    • Legacy listing on future Vortex builds and STARS Launchpad page

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