TWS Horizons 0268
Empowering the Next Generation of Engineers.
Our Team
Our team, from Scripps Ranch, San Diego, aims to build a rocket that can reach 790 feet in altitude and safely descend to the ground within 41-44 seconds. Our team spends upward of 10 hours per week, designing, building, and refining our rockets, all in hopes of achieving the specific performance goals we set for our rocket. With our team’s commitment to reaching nationals stronger than ever, we are determined to consistently improve our rockets to perform better and better.
Our Community
We don’t just compete — we give back. TWS Horizons has been hosting completely free summer workshops in collaboration with the San Diego Public Library for 4 years, where over 100 young engineers have learned about the principles of rocketry and have even launched their own built rockets, all under the supervision of our talented team members. We’ve received plenty of positive feedback from students and their parents, and our goal is to expand this program with each coming year.
Our Mission
By supporting TWS Horizons, you’re not just funding a team; you’re investing in the future of students, passionate about the fundamentals of Aerospace. With many of our team members planning to pursue engineering careers, experiences in this team, such as using 3D printers, CAD, learning OpenRocket, a software we use to model launches, and performing real-world launches, are precious. This knowledge isn’t kept secret within the team, as we give back to the community by hosting workshops for kids interested in rocketry.
"The reason I joined this team was to get hands-on experience in Aerospace Engineering, and developing my skills now is crucial to my future success." - Aditya Phadke
Our team is competing in one of the world’s most prestigious competitions; the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC). In this exhilarating competition, student teams across the nation design, test, and launch rockets that must meet specific performance goals.
Some Statistics
2 eggs - our payload, which must land safely and uncracked for this competition.
6 dedicated team members - make up TWS Horizons 0268.
15 places away from Nationals - our best qualification ever. With your help, we can make nationals!
41 seconds - the flight duration we hope to achieve, from lift-off to touchdown.
790 feet - the desired altitude of our rocket.
900+ teams - the size of our competition this year.
Our Team
Aditya Phadke
Lead Marketer
My name is Aditya Phadke and I am a co-president for this team. I joined this team with Abheek and Chetan during my freshman year of high school just to be involved in more extracurriculars, but I ended up loving building rockets and launching them. This team has changed me so much. I earned real-world experience and grew as a leader. Now, I’m a junior at Scripps Ranch High School, wanting to major in aerospace engineering. I thank everyone on this team for creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Chetan Thotti
Lead Designer
Hi, my name is Chetan Thotti, and I am the co-president of our rocketry team. I joined the team during my sophomore year to apply my CAD skills to real-world projects, which allowed me to not only succeed in that goal but also develop a deep passion for building rockets. Over the past couple of years, I’ve grown as a leader by working with students from my school and the local community to share and spread my enthusiasm for rocketry. Currently, I am a senior at Scripps Ranch High School aspiring to major in Data Science.
Abheek Somchaudhuri
Lead Builder
Hello! My name is Abheek Somchauduri and I am one of the co-presidents of this team. I joined during my freshman year along with Chetan and Aditya as I was passionate about rocketry, and my brother was leading the team at the time. Fast forward to now, I have learned a lot about both rocketry and this team. Guiding this team has allowed me to not only branch out into a new passion I may have never been aware of, but to also spread this passion with others in my community. With this newfound knowledge, I aspire to be an aerospace engineer one day.
Raghav Vaidyanathan
Build Specialist
Hi, my name is Raghav Vaidyanathan and I am a sophomore at Scripps Ranch High School. I originally joined this team because of my interest in space and engineering, and it's been really fun to launch rockets as well as build camaraderie with my teammates in order to reach our shared goal. Furthermore, our team's workshops have been really fulfilling to me, as I get a chance to pass on my skills to the younger generation. Though I'm not exactly sure what the future holds for me, rocketry will definitely play a part in it. Thanks!
Arush Sastry
Launch Specialist
My name is Arush Sastry. I am a freshman at Scripps Ranch High School. I joined this team because I was interested in learning about rocketry, and through this program, I have developed a passion for building rockets.
Nidhi Mehta
Technology Specialist
Hi! My name is Nidhi Mehta. I am a junior at Scripps Ranch High School. I joined rocketry because I aspire to be an aerospace engineer. I love everything rocketry and robotics-related, and I love helping my community.
Why Support Us?
Without funds, nothing can really take flight in our team, including our rockets. That’s where you become an important factor in our team’s success. Our team hopes to raise over 900 dollars, which would not only secure our team’s current season but potentially future ones as well. Ultimately, we need a total of 15 rocket launches, and 4 rockets, not including some spares we may need, just in case any of our rockets experience a mishap during testing. With even $20, your contribution can make a rocket launch feasible. Any and every donation will help our team reach its goal! Our team has launched well over 15 different times, each time improving our rocket from the last launch. Our team, with its experienced members, can easily reach nationals. With your help, you can make this attainable goal a reality!