The team returned to Black Rock Playa in April to launch again, testing new capabilities and laying the groundwork to guide the 2026 team to even more success.
SPEAR’s operational success is attributed to interdepartmental collaboration across West Point and support from organizations, including DEVCOM AvMC, the Office of Naval Research, the FAA Western Service Area, and local Nevada agencies.
The Center for Applied Research administers the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering program, and significant contributions are from Systems Engineering, Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Chemistry and Life Sciences, and EECS.
The mission sets a new benchmark in cadet-led aerospace operations and reinforces West Point’s role in shaping technologically adept leaders for the modern battlespace.