During the RC Aircraft challenge, mentees learn the basics of mechanical, software, and electrical engineering by designing and constructing a remote-controlled aircraft in an accelerated time frame to expose them to the nature of the American Institute of of Aeronautics and Astronautics’s (AIAA) Design, Build, Fly competition!  

Completing the RC Aircraft challenge is a great way to get prepared for the SPAROW team (Subsonic Performance Aircraft with Reliable Optimized Wings), which represents UAH at AIAA’s competition every year.

The challenge for 2026 is to construct a plane meant to imitate real aerial firefighting techniques, and is split into two distinct parts: aircraft design and avionics design.  Aircraft design entails designing and constructing the physical components of the plane, such as wings, tail, and cargo compartments.  Avionics design is all about flight data and RC airplane electronics, as mentees determine the best electronics for the job and write code to operate them.

If planes, radios, and real engineering experience interest you, consider joining the RC Aircraft Two Month challenge!

The rocketry two month challenge is analogous to the International Rocket Engineering Competition. Participants will design, build, and fly a L2-class rocket equipped with an aerobraking system, and carrying a payload analog provided to them. Additionally participants will design control and data logging systems so that their rockets accurately hit a targeted altitude while going more than 500 mph!

The rocketry two month challenge will teach participants:

• The fundamentals of rocketry

• Design of mission critical hardware, electronics, and software

• Mechanical design utilizing CAD software such as OnShape

• Schematic and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design

• Debugging of embedded systems

• How to iterate and improve designs

The Two Month Rover Challenge is a hands-on competition where you and your team will design, build, and control a robotic arm. Mounted to ASTRA’s Testbed platform, you will take on real-world tasks inspired by the University Rover Challenge! Throughout this challenge, you'll gain skills in mechanical design, prototyping, electronics, programming, and systems integration — all critical skills for building fully-operational systems. This challenge is the perfect intro to the design and problem-solving skills needed to work on ASTRA’s internationally competitive rover team. 

Welcome to Stratosat - A hands-on mission where you and your team will design, engineer, and launch a payload to the edge of Earth's atmosphere, nearing 100,000 feet! Your mission will consist of two primary objectives, including the rotational stabilization of your payload with reaction control systems, and a custom scientific objective developed and planned by your team!

The mission is divided into four specialized systems, each critical to the mission success for your flight:

• Electrical: Develop and solder the core circuitry that allows the collection of sensor data and the activation of stabilization mechanisms.

• Software: Write autonomous flight code in order to gather data and allow the payload to stabilize the payload during ascent.

• Mechanical: Design the supporting structure which will allow the payload to survive the conditions of extreme temperatures and high stresses, as well as implement pneumatic thruster systems to allow for stabilization.

• Science: Research and develop a customized scientific mission to be conducted at high altitude, following research principles and working closely with other subsystems to ensure mission success.

This mission is a direct precursor to the Spaceflight and BalloonSat programs within the Space Hardware Club, and will help students develop the necessary competencies to learn within the club.