A team of students from The Royal Liberty School, aged between 14 and 15, won the 2013 UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge and will take part in the final at the Paris Airshow.
There were 20 competing teams, who were required to design, construct and successfully launch a rocket to an altitude of 750 feet containing a raw hen’s egg, which then had to return safely to earth. The rockets were launched last week at an event hosted in Farnborough, Hampshire.
Paul Everitt, chief executive of aerospace trade organisation ADS group, said: “The Rocketry Challenge is a unique initiative to ignite enthusiasm for our sectors from some of the brightest young talent across the UK. It’s a tough competition but the rocket launches this year have been really impressive. I would like to congratulate everyone that took part.”
The Rocketry Challenge provides secondary school student teams (three to five members), aged between 11 and 18, with a realistic experience in designing a flying aerospace vehicle that meets a specified set of mission and performance requirements.
Students are required to work together in teams, just as aerospace engineers do. The challenge is not intended to be easy, but it is well within the capabilities of secondary school students with a good background in science and maths, and some craftsmanship skills.
Matthew Batson, Luke Chandler, Dumitru Vulper, Chandler Benstock and Josh Compton from The Royal Liberty School will represent the UK at the International Rocketry Challenge against the US and French winning teams at the Paris Airshow in June.
