Rocket Canes soar to new heights

Video: Franco LaTona/University of Miami - Nov. 17, 2025

After months of design and testing, the University of Miami's Rocket Canes achieved a flawless flight, sending their latest student-built rocket more than 5,000 feet into the South Florida sky.The student-run club built its Level 3 rocket entirely by hand-cutting fiberglass fins, assembling the airframe, and wiring new flight computers-after a failed launch earlier in the year. "We replaced everything, added backups, and this time, both parachutes deployed perfectly," said Yuri Palacios, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering. Open to all engineering majors, members apply classroom lessons to real-world projects. From earning Level 1 certifications to constructing advanced Level 3 rockets, members gain practical experience that brings classroom concepts to life. "When you spend months working on something and see it launch, it's one of the greatest feelings ever," said senior Andy Rodriguez, the organization's project lead.