MadWest Rocketry exists to close the gap between a fun launch and a useful contribution to space biology.
Thousands of students and hobbyists build high-power rockets every year. Almost none of those flights produce data anyone reuses. Meanwhile, NASA's Open Science Data Repository is hungry for well-described biology data — and the effects of launch loads, vibration, and brief altitude exposure on seeds are genuinely under-studied.
MadWest connects the two. We give builders a botanical sounding rocket and a data pathway in the same place, so a club or classroom flight ends as an open, citable dataset instead of a one-off afternoon.
Every flight aims to produce FAIR, openly shareable data — findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable.
We build and fly under recognized rocketry-body rules and local law, always with certified mentors at sanctioned ranges.
Designing to a real scientific standard teaches more than any kit — students leave knowing how science is actually shared.
Whether you run a rocketry club, teach a STEM class, or just want to fly seeds and share the results — there's a place for you here.
add your contact / club / repo links here
MadWest Rocketry is an independent educational project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA. "OSDR" and related names belong to NASA; we simply aim to help people contribute to it correctly. Always follow the official OSDR portal for current submission rules, and your national/local rocketry regulations for flight.
Every contribution to OSDR starts with one rocket and one clear question. Build yours.