NMSU’s Atomic Aggies Rocketry Team and the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol Group NM‑079 conducted a series of successful rocket launches at Spaceport America on Feb. 14, 2026. The event was coordinated by NMSU student Joshua Davila, President of NAR Section #982 and Solid Propulsions Lead for the Atomic Aggies. Davila organized participation from NMSU NAR fliers and seven regional American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) teams, using the launch day as an opportunity for preliminary ARC flights and community building.
Ten NMSU students earned their National Association of Rocketry Level 1 certifications by successfully launching rockets to approximately 1,700 feet, with 10 out of 11 total launches achieving full success. The Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol team, led by Lt. Col. Michael O’Dell, completed three successful launches as part of their ARC preparation. Leaders emphasized the value of hands‑on engineering, mentorship, and strengthening New Mexico’s STEM pipeline.
This marks the second consecutive year NMSU students have earned NAR certifications at Spaceport America. Both Davila and Spaceport America leadership expressed enthusiasm for continuing and expanding these partnerships to support future rocketry teams, STEM education, and workforce development across the region.
