Class of 2025 West Point Cadets Break Record In Hypersonic Rocket Launch

A team of eight cadets from the U.S. Military Academy’s Space Engineering and Applied Research, SPEAR, program successfully launched a cadet-designed rocket at hypersonic speeds to an altitude of 149.556 kilometers.  

The launch from Black Rock Playa, Nevada, marked a historic achievement in space exploration and engineering education by crossing the Karman Line, the international recognized boundary of space, and surpassing the amateur rocketry altitude record by six kilometers. The team worked closely with mentors from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Aviation and Missile Center. 

The SPEAR program began as a cadet initiative in 2018 and is now one of the most ambitious undergraduate rocketry programs in the nation. It operates through two sub-programs: SPEAR-THOR, focusing on hypersonic rockets, and SPEAR-ARES, which participates in NASA's Student Launch Competition and develops novel solid-motor propellants.  

These initiatives provide cadets with real-world experience in high-tech combat environments and foster an understanding of the Department of Defense's capabilities. With each launch, it pushes the boundaries of innovation, ensuring West Point cadets remain at the forefront of leadership and technology. 

Learn more about SPEAR: https://www.westpoint.edu/space-engineering-and-applied-research.  

About West Point 

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.