Help Us Build And Launch Rockets!

Our Mission

The Harlem Launch Alliance (HLA) is a student and alumni-run nonprofit and an undergraduate club with the mission of establishing an amateur rocketry program at The City College of New York and our Harlem/NYC community.

Our Story

City College has cut our club's funding by 67% this year. The Undergraduate Student Government lowered the maximum amount they allocate to each club and on top of that, the Grove School of Engineering has decided to no longer fund engineering clubs directly. Instead, they may potentially match grants received from companies and the outside world.

This decrease in funding puts a tremendous amount of pressure on our ability to grow this year. This is why we created this GoFundMe campaign to raise money for our engineering projects.

What we do

Currently, our projects consist of a high-power rocket certification program, flight computer development, and solid rocket motor manufacturing. These projects will support our long-term goal of launching entirely student-built rockets that could reach thousands of feet above ground level and win rocketry competitions such as the Spaceport America Cup (SAC). These programs provide students with unique experiential learning opportunities to work on real, drawing board-to-flight engineering projects, gaining hands-on analysis and teamwork skills in the process.

These are our three main projects:

(1) Certification

This program is designed to get anyone into the world of hobby rocketry, regardless of technical experience. Participants build their high-powered rockets from scratch with the help of the HLA, teaching students the basics of rocketry. On their journey to launch their rocket, students will learn the fundamentals of rocket design, how to simulate a rocket flight, and gain hands-on experience with assembling a high-powered rocket. This process culminates in members getting a chance to obtain their Level 1 certification from the Tripoli Rocketry Association (TRA) or the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) upon the successful flight of their rocket. The Certification Program is a stepping stone for working on more complex, team-based, high-power rockets our organization has planned for the very near future.

HLA piloted this program with eight members 2 years ago with the counsel of an experienced advisor. Every member was able to successfully fly and recover their rocket, earning their Level 1 certification, some even going on to work towards their Level 2 certification, involving more complex recovery systems and higher powered motors. Last year we had another 8 members get their certifications!

Click For Certification Videos and Statistics

(2) Flight Computer Development

This project aims to build a flight computer that can collect data and electronically deploy parachutes. In this team-based project, our members research and integrate various types of Arduino-compatible sensors to determine and transmit the rocket's altitude, orientation, acceleration, and position. The flight computer deploys parachutes based on this data, allowing the rocket to land safely. This project is electromechanically oriented, giving members exposure to Arduino programming, data analysis, electronics mounting, soldering, circuit board design, and more.

Over the past year, we have been able to develop our Catalyst series of flight computers, which have successfully collected data on multiple rocket flights. We are continuously improving our computer to be more accurate and to be able to deploy parachutes.

(3) Solid Rocket Motor Manufacturing

The goal of this program is to give our club experience in understanding propulsion engineering and the technical ability to manufacture, test, and analyze rocket motors for use in our rockets. Under the guidance of a knowledgeable mentor, the HLA has begun educating itself in the science and art of potassium nitrate-sorbitol ("sugar") solid rocket motor manufacturing and testing. Unlike our Certification Program, which benefits from the TRA & NAR certification system, there is no such widely accepted training and education program for any kind of propulsion engineering.

As such, the HLA is not only working on learning the methods of solid rocket motor manufacturing but also on establishing a safe, rigorous and holistic research program.

What are we raising money for?

Some of our budget comes from our college; however, we have many restrictions on those funds and they don't cover all of our expenses as an organization. By donating, you are supporting funding these aspects of HLA (dollar amounts are estimated):

You can make a difference by donating today to the HLA!

Harlem Launch Alliance Inc is a student-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit based at the Grove School of Engineering at the City College of New York dedicated to the pursuit of collegiate experimental rocketry. The engineers and scientists of the HLA build and fly experimental rockets and engines, and teach high school and college students alike the basics of manufacturing and the aerospace sciences. By donating, you are supporting the Engineering & Operations mission of the HLA.