The Royal Liberty School wins National Rocketry Challenge
Each of the 20 competing teams was 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 yesterday at an event hosted on a special site in Farnborough, Hampshire.
The UKAYRoC, organised by aerospace trade organisation ADS Group, is sponsored by Chemring, Rolls-Royce and Siemens.
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 today have been really impressive. I would like to congratulate everyone that took part today and I look forward to seeing The Royal Liberty School team at the international final at the Paris Airshow.”
The 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. They also win an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland Paris and an exclusive tour of the Airbus A380 facility in Toulouse.
UK final competition runners up were as follows:
2nd Prize – 1114 (Gosforth) ATC Squadron
3rd Prize – Whitley Bay High School
4th Prize – Abbeyfield School (team 2)
5th Prize – Airedale Academy
Best Innovation – Whitley Bay High School
Best Static Display – Victoria College (Team 2)
