Intern Rockets
ABOUT THE INTERN ROCKET PROGRAM
Summer interns at many ULA sites have the option to design, build, refurbish and launch sport rockets. The tradition began in Colorado and branched out to interns across the company supporting multi-year rocket projects. Now, volunteer interns and mentors build rockets at their own sites –a hands-on opportunity to work with hardware and get to know more experienced industry professionals.
Interns of all backgrounds, experience levels and job function can participate – mentors work with everyone to create safe, hands-on experiences for everyone.
Calling K-12 Rocket Scientists!
The Student Rocket Launch is an annual event presented by United Launch Alliance (ULA) and BAE Systems. It provides a unique educational opportunity to students from kindergarten through graduate school. The event offers participants hands-on experience designing and building their own payloads (devices, objects, experiments, instruments, etc.) to fly on three high-power sport rockets, which are built by ULA interns. The 2025 launch is planned for July in Alamosa, Colorado.
Program Objectives
Provide students hands-on design, analysis, build, test, and engineering experience
Allow students and interns to be involved in launching rockets
Provide a fun and enriching experience that inspires students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM)
We encourage all participants to attend the launch.
Hands-on STEM from kindergarten through graduate school
In Colorado, ULA teams up with BAE Systems to support the Student Rocket Launch -- a hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) project for students from kindergarten through graduate school. Summer interns at ULA and BAE Systems can volunteer their time to build several rockets (ULA interns) and payloads (BAE Systems interns) to be launched at the end of the summer. Elementary, middle and high school student teams can apply to build payloads.
The Student Rocket Launch simulates a real launch campaign so the interns can experience what the process looks like from start to finish on a smaller scale. United Launch Alliance’s real-life launch campaigns stretch over several years, and the Student Rocket Launch compacts that into seven to ten weeks.
