A new Comet Solar Racing team at The University of Texas at Dallas is in it for the long haul. Student organizers said they want to not only build a solar car but also a top collegiate solar racing team that will drive innovation and ingenuity in fields related to solar and electric mobility. John Hernandez, mechanical engineering junior and lead mechanical engineer of the team, said five students helped launch Comet Solar Racing. The organization has since grown into a multidisciplinary team of about 30 members who are designing and modeling their solar car and researching the batteries and solar cells they will need. Club members represent a variety of majors, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, neuroscience, physics, marketing, accounting and business administration.