Indulging in competition and the lighter side of Aerospace Engineering

STARKVILLE / MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, Miss. (WCBI) – Aerospace Engineering is a large and growing sector of the School of Engineering at Mississippi State University.

And, while the field involves serious study and has major implications, it also has a lighter side.

The department sponsors an undergraduate high-power rocketry team, the Space Cowboys.

Each year the team designs, builds, tests, and deploys a rocket for the International Rocket Engineering Competition.

And they do a pretty good job. Last year they were overall national champions and tops in their category as well.

Members take the rocket from the design phase to the gantry, they even have a team that runs simulations to predict performance.

Even though it sounds like intense engineering, the group is open to anyone with an interest.

“I will just say, Space Cowboys is open to all majors. We don’t just accept Engineering majors. We have Art majors, Biology majors, Buisness majors, anyone that wants to come and learn about rocketry, we’ll teach them.”

Space Cowboys also helps members work toward certifications through the National Association of Rocketry and Tripoli Rocketry Association.