Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, is encouraging aspiring astronauts and rocket scientists, aged 11-18, to compete in the UK’s largest youth rocket competition, the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKRoC).
UKRoC involves the design, build, and launch of a model rocket with the aim of ensuring the passenger - one raw egg - remains intact throughout the launch and landing. The rocket must reach 856 feet with a specific target flight duration of 43-46 seconds. Rules governing the competition are altered every year to ensure old designs can’t be repeated. Teams across the UK compete regionally to qualify for the national finals with the winners representing the UK in a fly-off against teams from the USA, Japan, and France at Paris International Air Show in June 2019.
UKRoC enables young people to gain practical insight into how science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects are used by the aerospace and space sectors which employ more than 160,000 people across the UK.
Giles, recently joined the UK finalists from the 2018 Challenge to find out how schools in Clacton can participate. More information can be found here: https://www.ukayroc.org.uk/
Giles said:
“The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge provides students with a unique opportunity to work together and learn key skills in engineering and physics, paving the way for them to become the future engineers and scientists our country needs.
“The rocketry challenge is a great learning exercise for the students and also a lot of fun, anyone who is considering a career in physics or engineering should enter to gain this invaluable experience. I hope local schools in Clacton take part in the competition and I look forward to supporting them in those efforts.”