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Rocket Project At UCLA - Project Ares

Pioneering Student Liquid Bi-Propellant Rocketry

Since its founding in 2017, Project Ares has established itself as one of the most advanced collegiate liquid rocketry teams in the world. In just a few years, we have:

Launched 7 liquid rockets – the most of any university team in the same timeframe.
Completed 47 static fire tests, hot-firing engines up to 2,000 lbf.
Set the international altitude record for a student-built liquid rocket three times, most recently in 2023 at 22,300 ft with our rocket Phoenix.
Achieved the national collegiate apogee record for Ethanol–LOX rockets at 24,100 ft with full recovery with our rocket Grand Larceny.

Our mission this year is clear: to cultivate the next generation of rocket engineers through the design, manufacturing, testing, and launch of a liquid bi-propellant rocket to 10 miles (52,800 ft).

A Hands-On Rocketry Education

What makes Ares unique is our ability to design, build, and fly a new rocket every single year—all at a fraction of the cost of typical liquid programs. Nearly every component is built in-house, maximizing educational value and ensuring our members graduate with true end-to-end engineering experience.

In 2024, our team designed, fabricated, and launched our most technically ambitious rocket to date: Grand Larceny. Despite setbacks, our undergraduate team persevered and delivered a national-record-holding vehicle. Now, we are developing our next rocket—slated for launch in April 2026—with the goal of breaking our own record yet again.

Each year, we push the boundaries of what is possible for a student team. From successfully hot-firing three regeneratively cooled 2,000 lbf engines in one season to developing custom throttle valves for precise propellant flow control, Ares is consistently at the forefront of collegiate rocketry innovation.

Why We Need PCBWay

At the heart of these breakthroughs lies cutting-edge electronics and avionics. Our propulsion, navigation, and control systems all depend on robust circuit boards that can withstand the harsh environment of liquid rocket testing and flight.

Up to now, we’ve used simple two-layer boards. But as our rockets become more advanced, our electronics need to be more compact and powerful to keep up with the growing technical demands. That’s why we need to move to multi-layer, custom-shaped PCBs that allow us to fit more into less space while also improving reliability.

Partnering with PCBWay would empower our team to:

Rapidly prototype advanced avionics and throttle valve controllers.
Build robust electronics capable of handling real-time flight operations.
Continue pushing the limits of collegiate liquid bi-propellant rocketry.

Looking Ahead

Rocket Project is not just a student club—we are a training ground for the engineers who will lead the next era of aerospace innovation. With PCBWay’s support, we can continue to raise the bar for collegiate rocketry, redefine what students can achieve, and inspire future generations to take part in hands-on engineering at the highest level.