Help Tuskegee’s Rocketry Team Reach Space

We are the Tuskegee Organization for Rocketry Operations and Dynamics (bit of a mouthful so call us TORODyne) — the only HBCU rocketry team in the nation operating as a nonprofit organization. After more than 10 years of dormancy, we revived this club completely student-led and student-funded. Every milestone so far — from building rockets to gaining Tripoli certifications — has come from our own determination, limited resources, and the support of a few who believed in us.

Now, we’re aiming higher than ever: building a rocket capable of attempting the Kármán line (100 km) at Tripoli’s BALLS launch in Nevada, one of the most extreme amateur rocketry events in the world.

Why This Matters

Tuskegee has a proud history of breaking barriers — from the legendary Tuskegee Airmen to today’s innovators in aerospace. We are continuing that legacy by showing that underrepresented students can compete on the biggest stage in amateur rocketry.

But unlike many other teams, we don’t have corporate funding, large university budgets, or decades of infrastructure behind us. As a nonprofit HBCU team, we rely on supporters like you to help us represent not just Tuskegee, but the broader push for community and innovation in aerospace.

Where Your Donation Goes

Your support fuels both our rocket and our mission:

Transportation and Lodging (20 members to Reno, NV): $12,000

Registration: $1,200

Hazmat Shipping (80lb of hazardous materials): $150

Contingency & Replacement Parts: $4,000

Community Outreach: $3,500

 

Equipment and Infrastructure: $10,000

Misc: $5,000

Argonia Cup Rocket: $15,000

Total Goal: ~$50,000

*All pricing are rough estimates and various other projects may be funded by this campaign*

We would really appreciate if you could demonstrate that extra love for an HBCU with any donations including 1881 in them!

Why Your Support Counts

When you give, you’re not just funding a rocket — you’re:

Supporting the only nonprofit HBCU rocketry team in the nation.

Helping students gain real-world engineering experience that changes careers.

Ensuring Tuskegee continues its legacy of excellence, innovation, and breaking barriers in aerospace.

Thank You! We’re deeply grateful for every donation, share, and word of encouragement. With your support, our team will not only launch a rocket — we’ll launch a new era of opportunity for HBCU students in aerospace.