Upon signal triangulation, Cadet Barrett Connor visually confirmed payload integrity.

“We didn’t want this to end with just telemetry. Holding a component that touched space made the mission tangible,” added Cadet Ida McLaughlin.

Advisor and instructor Maj. Kevin Zander said, “It was unclear if the system had survived. The successful retrieval demonstrates not only technical success but operational perseverance.”

This achievement aligns with West Point’s intellectual theme, “The Human and the Machine: Leadership on the Emerging Battlefield,” reflecting the fusion of human resolve and advanced engineering under military discipline.

Col. Aaron Hill, Deputy Head of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, reflected, “This team exemplifies what it means to lead in contested, high-tech domains. The success underscores our cadets’ readiness to innovate and execute in uncertain, high-stakes environments.”