Rice Eclipse prides itself in its ability to provide members with hands-on engineering experiences. One of the best ways for new members to take part in this is to construct their very own high-powered certification rocket. This process teaches members about the fundamentals of high-powered rocketry and allows them to see their rockets perform in action at a launch.

The team works closely with Tripoli Rocket Association and most of our launches take place at Tripoli Houston events. By teaching about and certifying members in high-powered rocketry, Eclipse is better able to conduct test launches of team rockets such as those which are designed to compete in the Spaceport America Cup. In an effort to make member certification more widespread and less expensive, Eclipse has developed our own Level 1 high powered rocket kit. Since our first launch in September of 2016, we have had 114 members receive Level 1 certifications, and 16 of those have gone on to get their Level 2 certifications.

Our goal is to give as many members as possible the option to achieve this certification with minimal expense. Certification candidates must make an OpenRocket (simulation) design, build their own rocket from scratch with supplied parts, and be able to assemble and prepare their rockets themselves. We hope that these Tripoli high powered certifications give our members the opportunity to learn a skill they cannot get in a classroom and spark a lasting interest in amateur rocketry.