Trillium Rocket Team

Through the Trillium Rocket Project, George Fox University (GFU) students were able to design, build, and fly high power rockets. They gained valuable experience in a multidisciplinary project atmosphere. The driving goal of this rocket’s design was to achieve an above ground level (AGL) apogee of 10,000 feet. Openrocket, an open-source rocket design and simulation software, was used throughout the rocket design process. All airframe and mass components were added to Openrocket to define the desired aerodynamic, mass, and thrust characteristics. Detailed design in Openrocket allowed the team to select a motor that was capable of propelling the rocket to 10,000 feet with a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than five-to-one. A drogue parachute was chosen for a descent from apogee at a rate of 80-90feet per second. Three members of the Trillium Rocket team participated in a rocket competition hosted by the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) – the 2023 FAR-51025 International Rocket Competition. In preparation for the launch, the Trillium Rocket team conducted ground testing. This testing included validating avionics and pyrotechnic separation to ensure reliable parachute deployment. The team then drove nearly 1000 miles from Newberg, OR, to the competition in Randsburg, CA. A total of nine teams participated in the 2023 competition. The GFU Rocket Team placed fourth with a total score of 10,655points (9,855 points for altitude precision, 600 points for onboard video, and 200 points for launching first).