It (Actually) Is Rocket Science: New podcast episode explores UNM rocket engineering

It's (Probably Not) Rocket Science (IPNRS) says the sky isn't the limit and discusses a topic of every kid's dreams-flying rockets.

Titled "It Actually is Rocket Science,"this podcast episode highlights Lobo Launch, which is a rocket engineering program developed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of New Mexico. Lobo Launch is paired with an academic course during the Fall semester. Fernando "Doc" Aguilar, the professor of rocket engineering at UNM, leads the practical design build and research rocket program.

The Lobo Launch program now features three rockets. One rocket goes to the Spaceport America Cup near Las Cruces, another is used to put up payloads for Los Alamos National Labs, and a final big rocket that is lovingly called the "Big Fat Lobo Rocket" - or BFLR for short.

Engineering students spend the first part of the semester in an academic seminar learning about rocket engineering and discussing designs and launches of historic rockets.

Rocket science is often viewed as challenging, leading to the popular phrase "it's not rocket science," but Doc says it's a lot simpler than most think, like building legos.

"It's 1000 easy things. You just learn each individual thing, which is easy, and you put them all together. It looks like a complex system" said Doc. "It's just building blocks."

The course is aimed at helping students excel in their engineering careers, and many eventually go on to work for companies like Lockheed Martin, Blue Origins, and SpaceX.

Hyein Choi, who studied mechanical engineering and applied mathematics at UNM, took Doc's class last year and played a major role in the development of the competition rocket.

Choi served as the program manager for the competition rocket and says her first semester of the project was primarily lecture based teaching by Doc. Covering topics like initial design practice, manufacturing, and test launching.

"It was the most hands-on experience I have had from a lab. I think it set me up for figuring out logistics and taught me how to build a rocket from scratch," Choi said about the curriculum.

Doc peppers in personal stories from his career in Air Force Space Command. Doc is hopeful about future engineers and says students will have a significant impact on the industry.

"There's hope for America. These kids are really something" said Doc, about his students' potential. "We're in a space renaissance, everything is moving so fast, and they're going to impact it tremendously."

For now, UNM students, faculty, and staff can gaze into the sky wondering if that's a shooting star, or the Lobo Launch rockets.

Listen to the episode today to learn more because "It Actually is Rocket Science." It's (Probably) Not Rocket Science is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Learn more about the show on podcast.unm.eduand follow on Instagramand ⁠ TikTok.