UNC Charlotte Engineers Set Sights on NASA Rocket Competition Win in 2026
In just eight weeks, nine students invested 2,500 hours into their project. They must build a rocket that soars between 4,000 and 6,000 feet.
A determined group of UNC Charlotte students aims to reclaim victory at the NASA University Student Launch Initiative. The contest runs April 22-26, 2026, in Toney, Alabama. After slipping to 14th place last year, the team wants back on top.
"Last year, we placed 14th out of 60 schools, which isn't bad, but it's not up to the Charlotte standard," said Hunter Boik, the team's project lead and senior mechanical engineering major, per Charlotte.edu. "We're putting in an insane amount of work so that we don't just place in the top five — we're going for the top spot on the podium."
In just eight weeks, nine students invested 2,500 hours into their project. They must build a rocket that soars between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. After landing by parachute, it needs to complete a soil test within 15 minutes.
"Think of it as when astronauts go to Mars or the moon and sample and test the soil, that's what we are simulating," Boik said.
The team's track record stands out. They've landed in the top five spots seven times since 2018. Their peak came with wins in 2021 and 2022, when they shattered the competition's height record.
What makes their success striking? UNC Charlotte just started teaching aerospace engineering in fall 2025. "We are extreme underdogs," said Daniil Zykov, who leads payload work as a senior computer engineering major. "It's amazing when a classical mechanical engineer from Charlotte, who specializes in engines, can build a rocket just off sheer grit, and not only does it work — it works better than the rocket from the aerodynamics engineer."
Jason Constantino, who heads vehicle design as a senior mechanical engineer, points to tougher rules this year. "NASA has increased the requirements for this competition each year. If you want to build a rocket that wins, you have to design something that no one else has thought of."
The students share their passion with kids, too. At Discovery Place Charlotte last month, they showed off 3D printed toy rockets, test gear, and a working wind tunnel to over 120 visitors.
"Growing up, I thought Discovery Place Charlotte was the coolest thing ever, and it cultivated my love for science," Boik said. "Now, I get to go back with the team and deliver that information to the next generation, and that's invaluable, because we always need more people in STEM."
To fund both rocket construction and public events, the team started raising money online. The big event takes place near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, where students will prove their technical skills.
