“The Challenge Is The Point”
Lehigh rocketry designs, builds and flies rockets to compete internationally and expand interest in aerospace throughout the Lehigh Valley. LURA hosts over 100 members as we develop solid prop, liquid prop, and robotics, in the pursuit of learning more, challenging ourselves, and having a ton of fun.
What we do
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The Lehigh University Rocketry Association exists to inspire the next generation of engineers. Our mission is to design, build, launch, and learn continuously, fostering curiosity and technical rigor at every stage.
Through deep collaboration with our local community and the broader East Coast, we aim to create a critical mass of student engineers passionate about space and rocketry, transforming the Rust Belt into the Rocket Belt.
Since our founding in 2024, we have successfully grown from just a small interest group to a large club with over 100 members. Additionally, we have launched dozens of successful certification flights along with competing at IREC 2026 for the first time in club history and placing 65th with an Honorable Mention for Technical Relevance for our payload, LAIKA.
Talon
10K COTS
Carrying: LAIKA
Phoenix
10K COTS
Carrying: BLOOM
Talon was LURA's inaugural IREC vehicle, designed to make a statement on what our club is capable of. We understood that Talon was an ambitious project, but not impossible. At 8 in. diameter, 138 in. tall, and loaded mass of 98.7 lbs. competing in the 10K COTS category, our eyes were set on the goal of reaching an apogee of 10,000 ft. At the competition we came up slightly short, reaching 8,522 ft. but, had a successful recovery of all rocket parts and components and most importantly our payload.
Our payload for 2026 was a robotic dog named LAIKA, named after the first dog in space. LAIKA was equipped with LIDAR sensors, infrared cameras, and curiosity to explore the terrain she landed on. LAIKA's mission was to survey the surrounding terrain after being deployed from the rocket.
While our ultimate goal was to win, we were still able to learn and understand much more about this competition than what we knew going in. All lessons that will be applied to our next competition vehicle that will take to the skies in 2027.
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Technical Report
Our full Team 030 project technical report for IREC 2026.
2026 IREC Team
IREC 2027 is Talon's successor, flying the same 10,000 ft COTS category on an N-class motor. This year's vehicle carries BLOOM, a biological algal life payload. [Add more detail here — design goals, what's changing from Talon, and build timeline.]
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Our certification program allows members to earn a Level 1 High Powered Rocketry certification, through the Tripoli Rocketry Association. We have flown over 60 certification flights with a 95% success rate, with growing interest every semester. Through our program, members learn valuable knowledge about how rockets work, how to use appliances like laser cutters, in addition to design and simulation software. Members can also go on to build a Level 2 High Powered Rocket where they can learn about avionics, dual deployment, and more about the physics of rocket flight. Our program is run by our certification leads, who plan launches and schedules, and lead the design and build process.
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Bowie V1, was our first ever liquid bi-propellant rocket. Fueled with NO2 and Ethanol, Bowie launched at LDRS as the first liquid rocket to do so. Bowie V2 is now being designed as a more powerful successor to the incredible V1
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[Add more detail here — engine design, tank and feed system, test stand plans, and build timeline.]
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Space Race is a project where individual members join teams of 4, each one specializing in a different area of the rocket (i.e. aerostructure, avionics). Their goal is to design and build a Level 2 rocket that carries a payload of their choice under the guidance of a mentor. Teams go through the entire process of preliminary designs, cost and build analysis, as well as simulation and modeling. Then finally building, launching, and presenting their projects.
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Board
Joshua Kraus
Class of 2027, Integrated Aerospace Engineering and Behavioral Psychology
Armin Ziaee
Class of 2028, Integrated Business and Engineering
Ruby Armor
Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Anin Mae Truchan
Class of 2028, Integrated Materials Science and Engineering and Finance
Thomas Quinn
Class of 2027, Mechanical Engineering
Joshua Humphreys
Class of 2029, Mechanical Engineering
Prof. Terry J. Hart
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Former Astronaut (STS 41-C Challenger), Lehigh Alum '68
Leads
Nicholas Ryan
Class of 2029, Integrated Mechanical Engineering and Management
Jack Hetz
Class of 2028, Integrated Mathematics and Computer Science
Blake Brobst
Class of 2029, Mechanical Engineering
Mikaila Rivera
Class of 2029, Mechanical Engineering
Cole Wenis
Class of 2028, Electrical Engineering
Nathaniel Brooks
Class of 2029, Mechanical Engineering
Joseph Suazo
Class of 2028, Integrated Mechanical Engineering and Product Design
Through our outreach programs, we take on the task of inspiring next generation of aerospace. From guest speakers, to conventions and science fairs, we always look to share knowledge and educate others not only on rockets, but what we believe it means to be an engineer.
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Read about LURA in the news!
Lehigh EngineeringLehigh student rocketry team earns honor at international rocket competitionJuly 16, 2026↗
Resolve MagazineThe challenge is the pointAerospace Issue, 2026↗
Lehigh EngineeringLURA completes Level 2 high-powered rocket flightMay 9, 2025↗
Lehigh EngineeringLehigh University Rocketry Association presents at AIAA conferenceDecember 11, 2024↗
Help Fund Our Team
Building rockets and running a club as big as LURA takes a large amount of support. We're looking to keep expanding our reach to recruit more members, build a local launch site, and upgrade our lab space. Companies and Individual sponsors will be listed on our competition rocket that will be showcased on the international stage at IREC. If you're interested in supporting our members feel free to visit the donation link below, or reach out to us directly through our email. We look forward to hearing from you!
Donation Steps:
(For online/mobile payments)
- Visit the link below.
- In, AREAS OF SUPPORT, select student clubs and in the comments box specify, "Lehigh University Rocketry Association"
(For checks)
- A written out check to, Lehigh University, and in the memo, LU Rocketry Association
Looking for other ways to give? Contact our email!
Prospective members
We hold weekly meetings in Packard 101 at 6:00 PM. Come check us out, no experience required. Click the Join LURA button above to join our GroupMe.
Sponsors
Interested in supporting LURA? Click the Sponsors button above to learn how you can get involved.
Our Sponsors
