Tech rocket team launches at Spaceport
Test, in collaboration with White Sands, termed success
The first Mustang 6A rocket built by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Rocket Team in collaboration with White Sands Research and Developers LLC was successfully launched from Spaceport America earlier this month.
The rocket was designed to reach an apogee of 24,000 feet and while it fell short of that goal, it was an operational success and accomplished most mission objectives, which involved testing of several newly designed and innovative subsystems, developers said in a news release. The university offered no additional details on the mission.
“We are proud of the New Mexico Tech team and its student members for their recent launch effort,” said Dan Hicks, CEO of Spaceport America, in a statement. “We are pleased to work with these fine examples of the next generation of space industry engineers and scientists.”
Christina Lohn, WSRDs’ CEO said the mission took enormous preparation by his launch crew and the NMT rocket team, “but it really paid off with a smooth operation under changing weather conditions.”
The current mission was the third NMT rocket launch hosted at Spaceport America, and each group of students has been welcomed and supported by the spaceport crew, according to a news release. This team reached the highest operational level yet in terms of safety, proficiency, adherence to schedule, and professionalism.
“We want to thank the Spaceport America staff and its Protective Services contractor, who were very helpful throughout the preparations, up to and including active participation in our Mission Readiness Review and Mission Dress Rehearsal,” Lohn said.