In a move that surprised both the healthcare and aerospace industries, Epic is venturing into rocket science.  

Epic staff member and rocketry expert Chris Duffy gave his perspective on the shift.  

“Health IT is more complex than rocket science,” Duffy said. “Building rockets is straightforward. You just need to follow the laws of physics. But health IT? You have to think through all of the twists and turns that someone’s health can take. No two patients are the same. There are a lot of unknowns.”  

Developers on the Cogito analytics team are applying their data expertise to this new challenge, designing guidance and navigation systems to ensure precise orbital insertion and reliable payload delivery.  

“If we can handle the data demands of a major hospital system, we can certainly manage to construct a rocket,” said software-developer-turned-rocket-scientist Drew McCombs. 

The new division, called Epic Aerospace, is also drawing on the experience of implementers who help health systems prepare for the launch of Epic software. Their next objective is to run a series of tests with the technology demonstrator—a small-scale prototype that will validate the propulsion, avionics, and structural integrity ahead of launching the full-scale rocket.  

The first rocket designed by Epic Aerospace is set to launch next year, on April 1, 2026. Viewers can livestream the event on launch.epic.com.