Rocket Team (Prof. Pierre-Yves Taunay)

Title: Navy Rocket Team (13 Midshipmen - all Astro Track)

Mission Statement: Design, build, and launch a high-power rocket to participate in NASA Student Launch Initiative competition (SLI). Requirements for the 2026 competition specify that the rocket should reach 4000-6000 ft AGL with a payload that, upon landing, samples and gathers data about the local soil. The payload must then store and timestamp all data. The challenge is in support of the Artemis mission architecture and future crewed landing missions on other celestial bodies.

Sponsor info: PEO-IWS / gift funds

External stakeholder organizations: NASA, National Association of Rocketry (NAR)

Additional information:

1. The Naval Academy is the first service academy to participate in the NASA SLI competition, and has been part of the competition for more than ten years. We received the 2025 Service Academy Award, beating both Army and Air Force.
2. The competition culminates with a launch in Huntsville, AL. MIDN typically have the opportunity to visit the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center as well as the Motor Design and Analysis branch of the DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center. This DEVCOM unit performs rocket engine tests, as well as qualification of ordnance, both of which are relevant to MIDN’s career.

Small Satellite Team (Prof. Jin Kang)

Title: USNA SPLITS - CubeSat Separation System (6 Midshipmen - all Astro Track)

Mission Statement: The Naval Academy SPLITS (Separation Payload Linking Identical Telecommunication Satellites) is a CubeSat system that allows multiple satellites to be deployed, docked, and separated on command, in orbit, enabling cooperative operations in close proximity. Each unit consists of a 3U CubeSat with 2U of payload and 1U for the Naval Academy Standard Bus, connected via probes and a turnbuckle pin released by burn wire and solenoids. SPLITS supports communication and Earth observation missions by allowing delayed separation, de-tumbling, and precise orbital positioning of multiple CubeSats.

Aero Teams (Prof. Scott Davids and Prof. Ondrej Juhasz)

Title: Fiber Drone Detection and Neutralization Aircraft (8 Midshipmen - all Aero track)

Mission Statement: Design an aircraft specifically to detect and neutralize threat drones that are controlled through fiber optic cable. These threat drones do not emit electromagnetic radiation and cannot be jammed so an onboard acoustic detection system will be utilized to identify the threat at a stand-off range from friendly forces. Once detected, the aircraft will deploy an intercept drones carried onboard to neutralize the threat. The aircraft is capable of destroying two threat drones prior to reloading.

Sponsor Info: The Secretariat for Special Operations Capability Development and Innovation Division

Aero Teams (Prof. Scott Davids and Prof. Ondrej Juhasz)

Title: Persistent Threat Detection and Targeting Aircraft (8 Midshipmen - all Aero track)

Mission Statement: Design a field deployable aircraft to provide a persistent threat drone early warning detection and targeting capability at a standoff range from friendly forces. The aircraft will be assembled in the field in 20 minutes, launched from a tactical vehicle and fly to a predesignated area. The aircraft features a hybrid propulsion system and lightweight construction allowing it to remain airborne for 24 hours. It will employ a custom built on-board passive radar to detect targets while maintaining a low-observable signature. When a threat is detected, the aircraft will use an active radar to provide targeting information to intercept units. 

Sponsor Info: The Secretariat for Special Operations Capability Development and Innovation Division  

Aero Teams (Prof. Scott Davids and Prof. Ondrej Juhasz)

Title: High Speed Drone Intercept Aircraft II (8 Midshipmen - 4x Aero track, 2x Mech Engr, 1x WRCE, 1x EE)

Mission Statement: Design an aircraft to intercept and destroy high-speed adversary drone swarms at a safe range from friendly forces. The aircraft will utilize ground-based radar cueing for initial threat detection and will launch from a road or clearing. The turbine-powered aircraft will be able to intercept threat drones from the rear aspect and employs an active beam-steering radar for terminal guidance. The aircraft will disable the motor of the threat drone from close range using a modified shotgun before moving to the next target in the swarm. 

Sponsor Info:  The Secretariat for Special Operations Capability Development and Innovation Division