UNAM students develop suborbital rockets

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) develops suborbital rockets through the UNAM Propulsion Association, made up of engineering, science, and chemistry students, according to Monserrat Granados and Natalia Barragán, young members of this group.

In an interview with A21, the young students from Mexico's highest seat of learning explained that they make experimental rockets that do not reach outer space, but are a good introduction to aerospace for Mexico.

Barragán, the association's marketing leader, said that Propulsión UNAM is five years old and arose from the idea of a group of eight students who asked themselves.

“Why isn't Mexico entering the space sector? Why, if there are several ways of doing things, is no one taking action to build rockets and look up?,” Barragán said.

So, the founder, Omar Acosta Córdoba, invited his friends, and they began making cardboard rockets and learning the basics of experimental rocketry. Little by little, they began experimenting with other materials.

Monserrat Granados, head of outreach in the association's professional marketing division, said that it all began with interest and research based on information from other countries.

Meanwhile, Natalia Barragán explained that so far the group is made up of four divisions: Marketing, Aerostructures, Avionics, and Propulsion.

She explained that the Aerostructure division is responsible for the rocket body; Avionics, considered the “brain,” develops the flight computer and communication with the ground station; while Propulsion provides the “heart,” being responsible for the design and development of the engine.

Barragán indicated that they are currently working on the development of hybrid engines, as they previously only worked with solid engines, and the challenge is to make liquid engines.

"We are preparing for the next competitions, the Mexican Experimental Rocket Engineering Meeting (ENMICE) 2025, in November, with the new rocket called ‘Revolucionario’, a rocket that will fly to an altitude of 3 kilometers with solid propulsion. At the same time, we are working on the new development ‘Alba’, which is a new rocket with an altitude of 3 kilometers, but powered by a hybrid propulsion system," she said.

The young woman commented that this new rocket will be flying at the end of May 2026 in the United States.