Payload division
Payload Development
Each year brings a new payload challenge. Payload Development turns it into a mission: concept, CAD, structural analysis, manufacturing, assembly, autonomous mechanisms, and field testing — all designed to fit and survive inside the airframe.
What we're responsible for
- Concept development for each year's payload challenge
- Design, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, and testing of the payload
- Compatibility with the vehicle airframe
Where it lives on the rocket
- Payload section (approximate position) — Payload Electronics, Payload Development, Payload Software
Drawn to scale from the 2025–26 rocket. Nose cone, airframe, and fins come from its 3D model; the internal sections show the usual layout of a dual-deploy rocket, not measured positions.
What you'll work on
- Mission architecture
- CAD development
- Structural analysis
- Mechanical assembly
- Autonomous mechanisms
- Field testing
Skills you'll build
- Systems engineering
- CAD design
- FEA
- Mechanical integration
- Project management
Who leads it in 2026–27
Interested in payload development?
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