Pioneer Program

PIONEER is Illinois Tech Rocketry’s first multi-year program, designed to push the boundaries of student-built rockets. Over the course of two years, the program aims to design, build, and launch the first student-built dual-stage rocket to the Kármán Line, the boundary between Earth and space. 

The program consists of three main vehicles: Pioneer 1, 2 and 3 with targeted altitudes of 100,000ft, 200,000ft, and 330,000ft. Each launch will be used to test new technologies for future mission including recovery systems, flight hardwares and composite layup at high velocity and temperature. All vehicles feature a step-down dual-stage design to maximize aerodynamic performance. To validate these designs, we also build sub-scale “mini” variants for each rocket, reaching altitudes of 15–17k ft, which allow us to test staging, ignition, and subsystems before full-scale launches. 

Technical Challenges & Innovations 

• Head-End Ignition (HEI): With both stages using a minimum-diameter design, we implemented HEI systems where the igniter is inserted through the forward closure instead of the nozzle. This method removes the need to route wires along the outside of the body tube, improving aerodynamics and reliability.

• Stage & Fin Design: Each rocket pushes aerodynamic and structural limits, with Pioneer 2 approaching near-hypersonic speeds (~Mach 3.5). 

• High-Temperature Materials: Supersonic and hypersonic flight require high-temp epoxy, especially above Mach 2.5 (Pioneer 1). 

• Custom Flight Computers: Pioneer will carry ITR’s first custom flight computer system, NOVA 2, enabling advanced telemetry and flight data recording. 

Timeline 

• Spring 2025: Mini-Pioneer 1, Pioneer 1

• Fall 2025: Mini-Pioneer 2

• Spring 2026: Pioneer 2

The ultimate goal of the Pioneer Program is a successful student-led launch to the Kármán Line, marking a milestone in ITR’s history and paving the way for future high-altitude missions.