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=MARS- Monash Aerospace Rocket Society=

The Monash Aerospace and Rocketry Society (MARS) is a student organisation that aims to design and build a single stage, chemical hybrid rocket capable of reaching an apogee of 20 000ft, with an inbuilt recovery system that allows the rocket to be salvaged and reused. It is run by students at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and is currently self funded. The team also intends to compete in the Australian Youth Aerospace Association’s (AYAA) National Rocket Competition, depending on the status of the competition.

The purpose of creating the MARS group is to apply the skills and techniques developed in the Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering degrees to a real world project; in turn providing practical experience that will be beneficial both during study and upon graduation. By competing in the AYAA National Rocket Competition, the team aims to emulate the structure of similar Monash Engineering competition teams – the Monash Motorsport and the Monash UAS teams – and benefit from the skills and experience that members from these teams enjoy.

In addition to these motivations, another aim for the team is to see this project qualifying as a possible final year project. For those students who have an interest in spaceflight, the team could provide a way to be involved in the research and design of a rocket as a part of their engineering degree. In this way, the team could attract students coming into their final years to join the team, thus keeping the team running into the future. The chancellor of the club is Damon Honnery whom is providing an in depth knowledge on rockets and allowing a smooth and safe operating environment, as well as facilitating the possibility of final year projects.

The structure and hierarchy of the club is highly flexible and is always under developement, if you are interested in taking a more pronounced role in the club please contact any of the higher members or bring it up at our weekly meetings.

Current research and construction of our first rocket are under way. For further details and design see link "The Jig v1.0" As the static test for the initial rocket approaches, our focus will shift towards a second, larger rocket and the challenges involved with that see The Jig v2.0.