December 9, 2025 UAB's newly formed Rocketry Club has been accepted into NASA's prestigious Student Launch Challenge for 2026. Their Vulcan I rocket must reach exactly 5,000 feet, deploy a soil-testing probe, and transmit data back—all within about 108 seconds. The club was founded this year by students with previous collegiate rocketry experience, including president John Francis Zech from Notre Dame's national championship team. Despite being brand new, dozens of students showed up to the first meeting. Their competition rocket will stand 8 feet tall and exceed 300 mph, experiencing forces up to 11 Gs. Before the April competition, they must complete subscale test launches this fall and full-scale tests in spring. The club emphasizes that rocketry needs more than engineers—they welcome students from chemistry, business, marketing, physics, and all disciplines. Supported by NASA grants and private donors, they also offer mentorship programs for high-powered rocketry certification. For more information, read the UAB article.