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Mission
The mission of the VCU Ram Rocketry team is to engage with the VCU engineering and science community to relentlessly pursue projects and allow student to engage with the aerospace industry through primarily hands-on experience and professional development opportunities.

Membership Benefits
1. Specific: To obtain L1 and L2 certifications for members of the team in the fall semester. Having the L1/L2 certifications, the team can participate in the Spaceport America competition in the following June.
Measurable: We will know we reached our goal when at least the officers of the team have L1/L2 certifications.
Attainable: This goal is attainable with a very small and committed team. We currently don't have funding but plan on getting it from VCU club funds, Dean's fund, and private industry.
Relevant: It's relevant because having the L1/L2 will not only introduce the team to rocketry but also give them a relevant certification to the aerospace industry. It will give the team hands-on experience with rocketry and launches. Participating in the Spaceport America launch will give the team experience with designing, testing, and the analysis of launch systems. It will also teach the team the entire engineering life cycle and how to file proper paperwork within the aerospace industry. At the Spaceport America event, the team will be able to network with industry and gain more information about careers in the aerospace industry.
Time-bound: Obtaining the L1/L2 certifications has a hard deadline during the fall semester. The Spaceport America competition will be held in June.

2. Specific: To design and test Virginia's only liquid propulsion system built entirely by students by 2024.
Measurable: It's measurable based on working with the UVA rocketry team. The VCU rocketry team will design their test stand. That's the first project the team will engage in and slowly start designing our own based on mutual designs. The biggest metric will be when the VCU team starts to manufacture the necessary components.
Attainable: This goal is very realistic with the help of UVA and industry mentors. It'll be a slow and complex project but very obtainable with a dedicated team led by leaders with a vision of the larger project. Currently there is no funding for this project, and we plan on obtaining funding from VCU and private industry.
Relevant: This project is relevant because the space industry is burgeoning at an exponential rate. By designing, building, and testing a liquid propulsion system, it'll give students hands-on experiential experience that is extremely relevant to industry. It will also give students an understanding of the engineering life cycle from designing, testing, and manufacturing with minimal constraints.
Time-bound: This goal will be achieved by 2024. The reason for the long timeline is because of the manufacturing process and paperwork that has to be done for the project to be completed.

3. Specific: Engage with the VCU science and engineering community to network and educate them about careers in the burgeoning aerospace industry.
Measurable: This goal will be measurable as the team grows and more members are engaged and join. When there is an increase of events for the team to educate the community about space and rocketry.
Attainable: Very attainable with the current team. There is a team that is specific to community outreach and engagement. Minimum funds are required as this activity only requires space and educational materials.
Relevant: Very relevant as educating the VCU community about aerospace careers and networking is one of the top priorities of the team. Engaging with the Richmond community at large is also another top priority of the team to educate the local schools and community about rocketry is very important.
Time-bound: Within 3-6 months.