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Vanderbilt Rocket Team collects coveted Altitude Award in 2023 NASA Student Launch competition

Jun. 6, 2023—The Vanderbilt University rocket, New Ham, successfully flew to within 4 feet of its 4500-foot altitude target to place first and collect the coveted Altitude Award in the 2023 NASA Student Launch competition. The team also earned a first-place award in the STEM Engagement category and placed second in the key Project Review category. The...

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A.V. Anilkumar is named Mark Dalton Faculty Director of Experiential Learning in Aerospace Engineering

May. 2, 2023—Former chair of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust and Vanderbilt Law School alumnus Mark F. Dalton, JD’75, has established a faculty director position to bolster innovative hands-on learning in aerospace design. The inaugural Mark Dalton Faculty Director of Experiential Learning in Aerospace Engineering is Amrutur “A.V.” Anilkumar, professor of the practice of aerospace engineering and...

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Vanderbilt rocket team earns 2022 NASA Student Launch Project Award

Jun. 14, 2022—The Vanderbilt rocket team won the coveted NASA Student Launch Project Review Award for the best documentation of the project progress through 2021-2022. The national Student Launch rocketry competition was held in April and results were announced June 3. This is Vanderbilt’s 15th year to participate in the annual NASA event and teams have won the...

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New fund to sustain Vanderbilt rocket team successes

Feb. 16, 2022—Emeritus trustee creates Dalton Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory Fund to support lab’s vision A devoted and longstanding Vanderbilt University supporter has combined his interest in space exploration with his enthusiasm for the university’s rocket team, winners of an unprecedented seven NASA Student Launch national championships in 10 years. Mark F. Dalton, JD’75, emeritus trustee and...

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Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond visits Vanderbilt, laying groundwork for future partnership

May. 27, 2021—United States Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond visited Vanderbilt University to learn about the pioneering aerospace engineering projects at the university’s research institutes and trans-institutional programs. The visit also presented areas for collaboration with the newest independent service of the U.S. military. After an introduction by Vice Chancellor for...

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Class of 2021: From rockets to fighter jets, mechanical engineering major builds on big successes

May. 6, 2021—by Brenda Ellis May. 3, 2021 Will Reisner enjoys reaching new heights. The mechanical engineering senior is the vehicle team lead on Vanderbilt’s perennially top-ranked rocket team. Will Reisner, Class of 2021 (John Russell/Vanderbilt University) He’s also a hiker and mountain biker who has summited seven Colorado mountain peaks over 14,000 feet. And in July, Reisner is...

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Vanderbilt rocketeers win seventh NASA launch national title

Jul. 24, 2020—The Vanderbilt University rocket team has won an unprecedented seventh NASA Student Launch national title. NASA officials today announced the Artemis Generation winners of its 2020 launch competition. By NASA’s comprehensive grading, the Vanderbilt team edged teams from second and third place winners, University of North Carolina-Charlotte and the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and 43 other...

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Meet Abbey Carlson, engineer, golfer, rocket builder and pilot

Feb. 1, 2020—The ability to play top-level golf would be enough for most college students. But it barely touches the surface of what drives Vanderbilt standout Abbey Carlson. Carlson, who recently earned an invitation into the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this April, is arguably America’s most interesting women’s golfer. She possesses a truly remarkable resume. On the...

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