Launching into the Future: The Orbital Launch Team

What is the OLVT?

What if students didn’t just study aerospace, but built and launched vehicles themselves? Thanks to a dedicated group of students at Virginia Tech, this dream is now a reality. Started by a group of 10 individuals in 2016, the Orbital Launch Vehicle Team (OLVT) is a student-run organization that is working to deliver an object into low-earth orbit. With increased efforts and member participation, this goal is well within reach.

Launch Vehicles

Over the course of 10 years, the Orbital Launch Vehicle Team has designed and built a series of rockets with differing features, but all with the same purpose- to launch a vehicle into low Earth orbit. These vehicles include: The Hokie 0.75, with a stimulated maximum altitude of 384,000 ft and maximum stimulated velocity of Mach 5.5; the Skipper 1, with a max altitude of 3,549 ft and max velocity of 535,9 ft/sec; the Test Turkey, with a max altitude between 5,875 ft - 10,000 ft and max velocity between Mach 0.7 - Mach 2.1; the Hokie 0.5, with a max altitude of 17,000 feet and max velocity of Mach 1.3; the Hokie 0.25, with a max altitude of 5,000 ft and max velocity of Mach 0.7; the Certifier, with a max altitude of 1,400 ft and max velocity of mach 0.4; and the Skipper 2, with a max altitude of 4,800 ft. Together, these vehicle iterations showcase years of design, research, and commitment that have allowed this team to continuously progress.

Team Structure

The Orbital Launch Vehicle Team can be categorized into eight specialized sub-teams. It consists of leads in the following categories: leadership, avionics, business, launch operations, propulsion, research & development, structures, and trajectory & aerodynamic analysis. Together, these subteams work cohesively to design and deliver new contenders in pursuit of reaching low Earth orbit. This specific structure allows students from all backgrounds to find a role that best fits their strengths. Through this, OLVT actively encourages teamwork, leadership, and real-life experience, allowing students to grow in their roles.

The Lab

Home is where the heart is- and for OLVT members, that heart is located in Virginia Tech’s Advanced Engineering Design Lab. The lab houses 12 undergraduate design teams spanning a wide range of specialties. Resources available to students include a vehicle assembly bay, a machine shop, a CAD Lab, a conference room, a 3D Printer, multiple power tools, high-tech safety features, and more. All of these resources are designed to give students the best opportunity to succeed in their creative endeavors.

Career Impact

The Orbital Launch Vehicle Team offers students the opportunity to practice and develop their skills in a real-world setting. Each member gains invaluable experience through their participation, giving them the ability to succeed in school and beyond. It also offers students the opportunity to build life-long connections with peers and mentors, opening doors to new opportunities each day.

How to Get Involved

Students interested in joining this group of passionate and hardworking students can contact the team or apply in the fall through the OLVT website. Students of all academic backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to join!

A launch rocket in the OLVT work space. Photo courtesy of OLVT.