Ateneo students successfully launch rocket in US competition
Members of AdDU’s rocketry team pose with rocket named Sibol before the launch. (Photo from AdDU)
DAVAO CITY — The Ateneo de Davao University rocketry team made history on Saturday after they successfully launched the rocket “Sibol” at the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico, USA.
The AdDU team is the first representative from the Philippines to compete in the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) held from June 17 to 22, 2024.
The event was participated by about 1,700 students from 200 different universities from the US and 20 other countries.
“Sibol” a hybrid 7-foot Filipino-made rocket of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Rocketry Team. (Photo by JOSELLE R. BADILLA)
Some 152 teams have registered, 86 from the US and 66 from foreign countries.
Apart from the Philippines, also competing from Asia were groups from India, Taiwan and Thailand.
The AdDU team are aeronautical engineering students.
Their hybrid rocket Sibol competed in the solid propulsion (solid propellant), specifically the 10k Commercially Off-the-Shelf (COTS) category.
It was the last rocket launched on the third day of the competition.
Franz Carlo Guevara, team leader of AdDU Rocketry Team, explains the composition of their entry to the Spaceport America Cup 2024. (Photo by JOSELLE R. BADILLA)
The AdDU Rocketry Team named their rocket “Sibol” – which means growth in Filipino.
It is a 9.7-foot high-powered rocket carrying an 8.8-pound payload (4 kilograms) to an altitude of 10,000 feet.
“This is ADDU’s humble contribution to the development of space technology which is crucial in our pursuit of sustainable development goals,” AdDU President Fr. Karel San Juan said in a statement.
“We hope to invite partners and sponsors in this mission,” he noted.
AdDU Rocketry Team, the first Philippine team to compete in the 2024 Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico, USA, one of the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering competition. (Photo by JOSELLE R. BADILLA)
The AdDU Rocketry Team is composed of 16 students from the AdDU Department of Aerospace Engineering.
They are the following:
Team leader – Franz Carlo Guevara
Flight Operations – Azaella Beatriz Amposta and Ryve Caasi
Structures – Mariz Aylah Cenojas, Dylan Ruth Mayled and Avery Clyde Dimasuhid
Propulsion – Franz Joseph Tinapay and Mary Nicole Jacinto
Avionics and Payload – Angelo Ryan Dolina and John Vincent Manog
Recovery and Safety – Cai Roxana Reyes and Neil Andrie Paye
Logistics and Documentation – Rylee Radinka Gere, Nhorman Carl Baluran, Jose Kelvin Juson and Lenwen Kirk Cacho.
Their advisers are Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, chair of AdDU’s aerospace engineering program, Engr. Ramon Gregorio III and Wilfredo Pardoria Jr.
Screenshot of the launching of rocket “Sibol”
“Our Rocketry Team is a vital part of AdDU’s larger Rocket Development Program, known as Project Sugod,” San Juan further said.
“Sugod means moving forward, and it reflects our mission to advance aerospace engineering in the Philippines,” he explained.
“Through this initiative, we aim to not just compete in future Spaceport America Cup competitions, but also inspire and nurture a new generation of Filipino engineers and scientists, positioning our country as a burgeoning hub for aerospace innovation,” he added.
The Spaceport America Cup is held every year and is the largest intercollegiate competition in rocketry.
