ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY
Rocket Propulsion Laboratory is a UC San Diego student-led nonprofit organization that designs, builds, and launches advanced rockets through three project teams (Phoenix liquid, Hermes solid, Osiris multi-stage) and an introductory program (Project Daedalus), funded by corporate sponsorships and student member dues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLa Jolla, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY does
Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL) is a nonprofit student-led rocketry research organization founded in Spring 2017 at UC San Diego by Cameron Flannery, Michael Phalen, and Alex Lim. The organization operates from dedicated lab space at Franklin Antonio Hall (since 2023) and serves UC San Diego students across all majors and academic levels, providing hands-on aerospace engineering experience through four programs. Its three advanced project teams are Phoenix (a dual-cryogenic liquid bipropellant rocket powered by the student-developed Fawkes engine using LOX/LNG, producing 600 lbf of thrust at 3225 K chamber temperature with an Inconel additively manufactured triplet impinging injector), Hermes (a reusable solid rocket using potassium nitrate and sorbitol sugar propellant, targeting a 25,000-foot yearly launch cadence), and Osiris (a multi-stage solid rocket targeting 30,000 feet for the Spaceport America Cup 2027). Project Daedalus is an introductory two-quarter program that takes students from whiteboard concept to launchpad on smaller G-class rockets, serving as the recruitment pipeline into advanced teams.
RPL's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded through corporate sponsorships (Gold and Silver tiers) and member dues ($40/year for project team members, $15 one-time for Daedalus participants). The sponsor portfolio includes major aerospace and engineering firms such as Collins Aerospace, Blue Origin, Ansys, Gamma Technologies, and SECO Seals, with additional support from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. Membership is recruited through campus tabling at Library Walk and Warren Mall, mixer events, and the organization website, with applications processed annually on a fall cycle. The organization is governed by a student leadership team (President, five VPs, and Chief Engineers for each project) with no external parent company or investor ownership. RPL completed its first static fire test of an experimental solid rocket motor for Hermes on May 25, 2024, marking a key operational milestone.
The go-to-market motion is community-led rather than commercial: RPL sells no products externally, does not pursue revenue maximization, and reinvests all sponsorship and dues funding into rocket design, manufacturing, and launch activities. The value proposition for members is industry-aligned technical experience, professional development (resume reviews, mock interviews), and pathways into aerospace careers through an alumni network.
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY
- Legal name
- Rocket Propulsion Laboratory
- Website
- https://rocketproplab.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Rocket Propulsion Laboratory is a UC San Diego student-led nonprofit organization that designs, builds, and launches advanced rockets through three project teams (Phoenix liquid, Hermes solid, Osiris multi-stage) and an introductory program (Project Daedalus), funded by corporate sponsorships and student member dues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace Engineering Education / Collegiate Rocketry
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rocket Engines (Solid) (IMABADAF)
Keywords
Where ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Jolla
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sponsorships: RPL is a nonprofit student organization supported by corporate sponsors at various tiers (Gold, Silver). Sponsors provide funding to support rocket design, manufacturing, and launch projects.
- Membership Dues: Project Daedalus participants pay $15 to cover materials costs when their rocket design is finalized and passes design review. Project team members (Phoenix, Hermes, Osiris) pay $40 annually in membership dues to finance material purchases and organization-wide social events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Project Daedalus introductory program |
| Subscription | Annual | Project Teams (Phoenix, Hermes, Osiris) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RPL is a student-led rocketry research organization that designs, manufactures, and launches full-scale rockets across three active project teams: Phoenix (a dual-cryogenic LOX/LNG liquid bipropellant rocket), Hermes (a reusable solid sugar propellant rocket), and Osiris (a multi-stage solid rocket). It also runs Project Daedalus, a two-quarter introductory rocketry course that teaches students fundamentals of rocket design from CAD and simulation through launch.
Product overview
RPL is a student-led rocketry research organization offering hands-on rocketry projects across three advanced rocket programs and one educational program. Phoenix (liquid bipropellant LOX/LNG), Hermes (reusable sugar propellant solid rocket), and Osiris (multi-stage solid rocket) represent the core rocketry projects, while Project Daedalus serves as the introductory rocketry education program that prepares students to join the advanced teams. The Fawkes engine (600 lbf thrust liquid engine) powers Phoenix. RPL provides student-led research opportunities in aerospace engineering, including propulsion, structures, avionics, fluids systems, and recovery subsystems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Phoenix
Companies that use ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- USC Rocket Propulsion Lab: USC's student-led rocketry organization working on liquid and solid propulsion projects. Closest direct analog — another top-tier university propulsion lab on a competing aerospace talent pipeline.
- MIT Rocket Team: MIT's student rocketry organization competing at Spaceport America Cup and similar venues. Direct peer with a longer history and substantially larger sponsor base targeting similar liquid/solid propulsion programs.
- Georgia Tech S.P.A.R.T.A.N. Georgia Tech's student rocketry team. Comparable as a large university propulsion-focused organization competing in the same collegiate competition ecosystem as RPL.
- Princeton SEDS Rocketry: Princeton University's Students for the Exploration and Development of Space rocketry chapter. Comparable as a top-tier Ivy League university team working on high-power amateur rocket programs.
- Cal Poly SARA: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's Society of Aero/Astro Rocketry Association. A leading university rocketry team historically dominant at Spaceport America Cup, with strong industry sponsorship pipelines.
- Cornell Rocketry Team: Cornell University's student rocket team participating in collegiate launch competitions. Direct peer competing in the same Spaceport America Cup arena with similar high-power solid and liquid projects.
- Stanford Space & Rocketry: Stanford's student rocketry and space initiative. Comparable as a university team pursuing student-led launch vehicle development with industry sponsorship from major aerospace primes.
Others
- Spaceport America Cup: The annual collegiate rocketry competition where Osiris and Hermes-class rockets are designed to compete. Not a peer organization but the central venue shaping RPL's competitive trajectory and design targets.
Broad incumbents
- Astra Space: Small-launch commercial rocket company developing low-cost launch vehicles. Comparable as a player in the same small/micro launch vehicle category that RPL students often graduate into.
- ABL Space Systems: Small-launch commercial rocket developer. Comparable as a member of the same small-launch market where many RPL alumni pursue engineering careers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY social profiles
Digital presenceROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY
What does ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY do?
RPL is a student-led rocketry research organization that designs, manufactures, and launches full-scale rockets across three active project teams: Phoenix (a dual-cryogenic LOX/LNG liquid bipropellant rocket), Hermes (a reusable solid sugar propellant rocket), and Osiris (a multi-stage solid rocket). It also runs Project Daedalus, a two-quarter introductory rocketry course that teaches students fundamentals of rocket design from CAD and simulation through launch.
Is ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY a public or private company?
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY founded?
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY based?
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY is headquartered in La Jolla, United States, in the North America region.
How does ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues.
Who are ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are USC Rocket Propulsion Lab, MIT Rocket Team, Georgia Tech S.P.A.R.T.A.N., Princeton SEDS Rocketry, Cal Poly SARA, Cornell Rocketry Team and Stanford Space & Rocketry. Spaceport America Cup is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Astra Space and ABL Space Systems.
Does ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY have an API?
No public API is recorded for ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY.
What industry is ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY in?
ROCKET PROPULSION LABORATORY's product category is Aerospace Engineering Education / Collegiate Rocketry. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABADAF, Rocket Engines (Solid). Its NAICS code is 541715 and its SIC code is 3760.