A student-led club at Purdue has secured a Stage 1 victory in the prestigious NASA-sponsored GoAero competition. This accomplishment has earned the GoAero Purdue team $28,571 in funding, giving them a boost in prototyping their innovative autonomous search-and-rescue aircraft design.

Winning in the University Innovation Award category, GoAero Purdue was one of just 22 teams to win Stage 1 funding out of a total 200 competitors from across academia, industry, and research labs. The three-year competition challenges teams to push the boundaries of aerospace technology, awarding winners from a total prize pool exceeding $2 million.

Siddharth Goel, president of GoAero Purdue, says that this win is a huge milestone for the team.

"Competing against top startups and research labs as undergraduates and securing this recognition validates our hard work. This win provides crucial funding, strengthens our credibility, and fuels our next phase—prototyping and validation. We’re excited for the challenge ahead!" Goel says.

In addition to covering initial prototyping costs, the funding gives the team credibility in securing additional sponsorships and Purdue campus resources. Having come together just in the fall semester of 2024, the team’s rapid success underscores their ability to innovate at a high level.

GoAero Purdue brings together a diverse group of students from multiple disciplines, including Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (AAE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), First-Year Engineering (FYE), Computer Science (CS), Supply Chain, and Business Analytics.

The team now shifts its focus to the prototyping and validation stage, which ends in September 2025. The competition will culminate in 2027 with a full-scale demonstration of the aircraft, marking the final stage of this high-stakes challenge. 

The team continues to seek passionate individuals eager to contribute to the next phase of development. Follow their journey and stay updated on their progress.

Website: GoAero Purdue  

Instagram : vfspurdue

LinkedIn: GoAERO Purdue