New Mexico State University students pose with their rockets ahead of a series of NAR certification flights at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Courtesy/William Gutman
An NMSU student rocket takes off from Spaceport America’s Horizontal Launch Area on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Courtesy/William Gutman
Students and supervisors from the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol pose with their rocket ahead of a series of test flights at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Courtesy/William Gutman
SPACEPORT AMERICA News:
LAS CRUCES — Students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol Group NM-079 completed a series of rocket launches at Spaceport America Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
Saturday’s event was coordinated in part by NMSU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Joshua Davila, who serves as the Atomic Aggies’ (the competition rocketry team of NMSU) National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Section #982 President and Solid Propulsions Lead. In addition to identifying the NAR fliers from NMSU, Davila also involved seven American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) teams throughout the region to promote Saturday’s event as an opportunity to conduct preliminary launches.
“We, the Atomic Aggies, are incredibly proud of the growing community of local rocketry enthusiasts we are building connections with,” Davila said. “We’re thrilled to have local American rocketry challenge teams joining us for launches at Spaceport America.”
The NMSU students who launched represented the Atomic Aggies Rocketry Team. Of the team members in attendance, 10 earned their Level 1 certifications from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) for succeeding in launching their rockets up to 1,700 feet. Of the 11 rockets launched from the spaceport, 10 achieved successful flights.
Led by Lt. Col. Michael O’Dell, the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol team members were able to launch their rocket three times, completing the preliminary work for their ARC launches. The ARC is the world’s largest student rocket competition, and boasts over 1,100 middle and high school teams who will be competing at Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, Va., in May of 2026.
“The annual American Rocketry Challenge provides our Civil Air Patrol cadets a five-month long hands-on science and engineering challenge, and they love it,” O’Dell commented. “I brag about our students and how bright they are, but for me this represents another opportunity; to showcase New Mexico. This group and those that follow will all go off to universities and set loftier goals and with this experience coupled with these types of partnerships, we can keep some of them right here in our state.”
It marks the second-straight year in which NMSU students were able to secure their NAR Level 1 certifications by conducting flights at Spaceport America. Davila hopes to continue partnering with Spaceport America to bring in more NAR filers and ARC teams in years to come.
“This expands and develops upon what students learn in the classroom and deepens their passion for STEM through practical application. When we bring all levels of experience together on the launch pad, we foster a love of learning while building lasting connections within our rocketry community,” Davila finished.
Spaceport America engages in STEM and workforce outreach with academic institutions throughout the region which ranges from spaceport visits by K-12 students, to classroom visits by spaceport personnel, and support for university capstone projects.
“It is part of our mission to help students ‘dream big’ and become the industry’s future workforce,” said Spaceport America Executive Director Scott McLaughlin. “The American Rocketry Challenge is a national event that we want to help expand in New Mexico. Having NMSU students fly rockets with ARC students is a perfect union and a memorable and instructional time at the spaceport. Thank you, Josh, and our own Dr. Joachim Lohn-Jaramillo, for leading the charge.”