Launch 2 Learn: WI Students Set to Build Rockets

November 14, 2025

The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC), in partnership with the Tripoli Wisconsin Association, will host its annual Launch 2 Learn: Level 1 High Power Rocket Build Workshop on Saturday, November 15. This full-day virtual experience brings together 16 students and faculty from nine Wisconsin colleges and universities for an intensive introduction to high-power rocketry.

Participants represent a wide range of academic disciplines and institutions, including:
Alverno College, Lawrence University, UW–La Crosse, UW–River Falls, UW–Green Bay, UW–Green Bay Sheboygan Campus, UW–Stevens Point, Marquette University, and Carthage College.

Together, they will embark on a hands-on exploration of aerospace design, engineering practices, and launch readiness through the construction of a special design, Frankabur, 38mm high-power rocket.

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A Deep Dive Into Rocket Engineering

Over the course of the workshop, attendees will:

• Build a fully flight-ready special design, Frankabur, high-power rocket
• Learn essential rocketry terminology and safety procedures
• Explore flight dynamics and physics principles
• Develop a RockSim flight simulation to model their rocket’s performance
• Gain detailed understanding of recovery systems, stability, propulsion, and launch preparation

Each participant receives a Level 1 Rocket Kit, motor, and all required materials. Upon successful completion of a real-world launch at a scheduled Tripoli event, students can earn their Tripoli Rocketry Association Level 1 Certification—a nationally recognized credential in high-power rocketry.

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Expanding Access to Aerospace Education

Launch 2 Learn has become a signature WSGC program, providing students from across Wisconsin with meaningful, experiential learning in aerospace engineering. The virtual format ensures access for institutions of all sizes while maintaining the rigor and technical depth expected in hands-on STEM training.

“Our goal is to offer pathways into aerospace that are accessible, powerful, and truly hands-on,” said program leadership at WSGC. “Students who begin with Launch 2 Learn often move into rocketry competitions, payload design, research projects, and even NASA opportunities. This experience can be a launchpad in more ways than one.”

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A Collaboration that Builds Community

The workshop would not be possible without longstanding support from the Tripoli Wisconsin Association, whose certified instructors guide students through build techniques, structural integrity, safety standards, and certification requirements.

This partnership empowers Wisconsin students to participate in a nationally recognized technical hobby that blends engineering fundamentals with real-world experimentation.

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Looking Toward Launch Day

With rockets built, simulations complete, and safety steps mastered, the next milestone is the students’ Level 1 certification flight. Participants will join Tripoli Wisconsin at an upcoming launch event to put their skills—and their rockets—to the test.

WSGC is proud to champion STEM education and aerospace exploration across the state. Programs like Launch 2 Learn demonstrate what students can achieve when they are equipped with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to bring their ideas off the ground.

Stay tuned for build-day highlights and launch updates as Wisconsin’s next generation of aerospace innovators take flight.