In the year 2025, students from the University of Southern California Rocket Propulsion Lab (USCRPL) erupted into cheers as the clear phrase “We are in space!” came through the noisy intercom. Their creation, the “Aftershock II,” shattered international amateur space records, becoming the world’s first privately built rocket by a student team to successfully soar over 470,000 feet above the Earth’s surface.
Among these students was Aaron Wu, a Taiwanese international student, who played a core role in the development team of the “Aftershock II” using his expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and aerodynamic thermodynamics. This enthusiastic 23-year-old, formerly a trumpet major in a music class who had won several competitions, found his passion for rockets after witnessing a documentary about the Traveler IV rocket breaking the boundaries of space, fueling his desire to pursue aerospace technology amidst challenges of language, culture, and territory.
During the 2019 pandemic, Wu began remote learning in Taiwan before eventually traveling to Los Angeles from Taiwan to study at Mt. SAC Community College and later transferring to USC’s Mechanical Engineering program in 2021, where he joined USCRPL, becoming a member of the laboratory.
Within USCRPL, Wu’s primary responsibility was simulating the fluid behavior of rockets, optimizing heat protection systems, and aerodynamic designs using CFD to model the states the rocket would endure during launch. Wu explained, “My task was to ensure the rocket launches successfully, stays intact during flight, and safely returns.”
The “Aftershock II” rocket had to withstand speeds exceeding Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound) and temperatures above 1000 degrees Celsius. Wu utilized CFD models in over a thousand tests, aiding the team in improving coating and titanium alloy fin designs, enabling the rocket to overcome extreme environmental challenges and achieve a height record of 470,400 feet. “Our model even surpassed years of technological bottlenecks, filling a critical technological gap in the laboratory,” he proudly stated.
Despite his less-than-stellar math and physics grades as a former music student, Wu’s determination to find his life’s direction led him to study diligently, publishing three papers during his university years and designing the first comprehensive hypersonic CFD model. Working tirelessly on his thesis, Wu would sleep only 3 to 5 hours per day, constantly revising his designs from programming to mechanical processes.
This dedication not only made him a vital driver for the “Aftershock II” team but also earned him recognition from senior peers like Adam Aitoumeziane when he met the man himself from the documentary and received his praise, leaving Wu overwhelmed with excitement.
As graduation approaches, Wu looks towards a future full of possibilities, planning to fully immerse himself in the research and development of propulsion systems. With a scarcity of talent in computational fluid dynamics and aerospace, Wu feels a strong sense of purpose, believing that propulsion systems are the core components of rockets, satellites, and spacecraft.
From a student who once rejected college entrance exams to a dream pursuer now working as a rocket engineer, Wu exemplifies the meaning of his name “Aaron,” a person who climbs to great heights. Through his unwavering efforts, he has transformed his love for space into one technical breakthrough after another, continuing to pave the way for his own chapter in space exploration.