Ad Astra is a 2024-2025 Space Race rocket. It contains a deployable payload named Lil Bro and is set is launch Fall 2025. 

Specifications

• Length : 89" 
• Weight : 16 lbs
• Expected Apogee : 7,182 feet
  
• Max Velocity : 1011ft/s​

Structure

• Contains custom designed bulk heads in order to reduce weight
• Team designed a 3D printed nose cone with a fiberglass layup

Avionics

• Created custom battery holders
• Contains flight computers and GPS which are housed on a wooden sled
• The avionics bay controls when the parachute and streamers are deployed

Recovery

• The system features a dual-event, dual-bay setup, having 2 different stages of descent
• The main deployment uses a 6-foot parachute
• ​The drogue event utilizes an 89ft long streamer
  • ​Streamer was repurposed from a previous IREC rocket, Kong

Payload

• Payload is deployed using a custom-designed sabot that securely holds a mini capsule
  
• After being released the capsule descends safely to the ground
  
• Inside the capsule is Lil Bro which is a miniature version of the rocket which deploys from the capsule after main deployment