Indianapolis Youth Rocketry Program Trains Kids

The program enables children to build and launch high-power rockets for free with support from local corporations.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Space

A close-up view of a metallic model rocket airframe with a red nose cone resting on a wooden workshop bench. — The Indianapolis-based youth rocket bootcamp has enabled over 350 children to assemble high-power rockets since its launch in 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe specialized youth programs like rocket bootcamps are vital for local education?

Since launching in 2025, a free Indianapolis rocket bootcamp has guided over 350 children in the construction of more than 330 high-power rockets. This community-funded program provides all necessary materials for participants aged 8 and older.

Why it matters

The initiative addresses early-stage aerospace engagement by removing financial barriers to technical education. It serves as a model for how corporate-backed, skill-focused programs can foster interest in engineering careers among local youth.

The program has facilitated the assembly of 330 high-power rockets for 350 local participants. While these builds focus on high-power rocketry standards, the technical performance benchmarks for these specific units are not currently published.

The players

Tanaka Chonyera

A project manager at Eli Lilly who founded the Indianapolis-based youth rocketry initiative.

Eli Lilly

A global pharmaceutical company with a significant research and production footprint in Indianapolis.

Cummins

A multinational corporation specializing in power systems and engine technology that provides program funding.

The details

The program covers the entire lifecycle of a rocket build, from assembly to flight. Participants work with high-power model components, which generally feature larger airframes and more powerful propellant systems than standard hobbyist rockets. These projects are supported by funding from the Minority Engineering Program of Indianapolis, Eli Lilly, and Cummins, ensuring no cost to families.

2019: Tanaka Chonyera wins an essay contest on satellites.
2025: The free rocket bootcamp is launched in Indianapolis.
October 2026: Program statistics confirm 330 rockets have been built.
2027: Chonyera aims to set a world record for per-capita rocket launches.

The Tech Race

This program aligns with the outreach efforts of organizations like the Minority Engineering Program of Indianapolis. By prioritizing direct hardware construction, it seeks to outpace passive educational models in fostering future aerospace talent.

Children in Indianapolis aged 8 and older are eligible to participate in the free, fully funded rocket building sessions. Interested families can track the program's evolution as the organization prepares for its 2027 goal of breaking per-capita rocket launch records.

The takeaway

This program demonstrates how corporate funding can scale hands-on aerospace engineering access for school-aged children. Readers should monitor the organization's 2027 progress toward their stated goal of securing a world record for per-capita rocket launches.