*********************************
There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
*********************************
Atlanta, GA | Posted: February 3, 2023
Steven Gagliano - Communications Officer
Institue Communications
Space Is Closer Than Ever for the Yellow Jacket Space Program (May 2021)
Summary Sentence:
Earlier this month, the Yellow Jacket Space Program launched the largest rocket ever constructed by Georgia Tech students with eyes on becoming the first collegiate space team to reach space.
Full Summary:
Earlier this month, the Yellow Jacket Space Program launched the largest rocket ever constructed by Georgia Tech students with eyes on becoming the first collegiate space team to reach space.
YJSP crew celebrates the successful launch from mission control. 
YJSP Subscale Rocket Launch
YJSP's rocket on the rail awaiting launch
Hair dryer used by YJSP to prevent valve from freezing
YJSP crew poses with their rocket after launch in the Mojave Desert From a mission control bunker in the Mojave Desert on Jan. 6, the Yellow Jacket Space Program (YJSP) crew prepared to witness the culmination of five years of work as the countdown began to launch of their subscale liquid-fueled rocket.
At this moment, all of the test fires, the diagnostic checks, and preparations for launch provided little comfort to the crew, especially mission control operator Anthony Otlowski, knowing what was at stake and how quickly it could all fall apart.
"My hands leave the keyboard, and I'm thinking, 'There are a million different ways this could go wrong.' Our valves couldn't open, we could lose communication and the vehicle could half-fire, or the engine could hard-start and we blow everything up," he said, recalling initiating the launch sequence. "Just the amount of emotions going through my head as I clicked the button and gave the countdown, it was hard to keep a straight face and give everybody a clear picture of what was happening."
Even getting to this point was an accomplishment for a club that began in 2015 as what co-chief engineer Rithvik Nagarajan described as "a raggedy bunch of students who just wanted to test an engine." Now 250 members strong, the club is trying to become the first collegiate team to reach space.
