Teams from across the South West compete to be 2022 UK ROC Champions
Aspiring astronauts, rocket scientists and engineers from across the South West of the United Kingdom took part in the UK’s largest youth rocketry competition (UK ROC).
Six teams totalling 29, 11-18-year-olds from a range of schools, colleges and youth groups launched model rockets and were competing for a place in this year’s National final.
The regional event was held at King Edward’s School, Bath, and teams from across the region went head-to-head in a battle to be crowned regional leaders and secure a place in the national final and become National Champions.
The National Champions will win an all-expenses paid trip, to represent the UK in a “fly off” against international teams from the USA, Japan, and France at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2022.
UK ROC involves the design, build, and launch of a model rocket, with the payload of two raw eggs representing the astronauts. At the regional and national events, the flight duration goal is 44 seconds, and the ‘astronauts’ must remain intact throughout the launch and landing. Rules governing the competition are altered each year to encourage innovative thinking amongst participants and ensures previous designs can’t be repeated.
Commenting on the South West regional event, ADS Chief Executive Kevin Craven said:
“The South West is home to fourteen of the top fifteen global aerospace companies and is the UK’s largest aerospace cluster supporting 98,000 jobs and has been valued at £7 billion.
“One of the challenges the sector faces is recruiting and retaining its future workforce who are vital to the sector’s net zero ambitions.
“The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge is just one way we can entice people to learn more about the sector, and support and encourage young people into important and rewarding careers in the future.
“I look forward to following the teams’ progress throughout the competition and urge them to consider the high-value, high-wage and high-skilled career opportunities in the region available in the ADS sectors.”
Mina Roy, Head of Design Technology at King Edward’s School, Bath, said:
“We are delighted to be hosting the South West regional event on behalf of ADS and it’s wonderful to see so many teams engaged in the challenge and taking part.
“Over the past two years KES pupils have really relished entering this innovative competition and learnt so much along the way. Pupils have had the opportunity to apply skills learnt from STEM subjects to create their rocket, as well as focusing on teamwork, innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking, whilst building, testing and improving their rocket.
“The competition is as rewarding as it is challenging and a journey every school should consider being part of. Go rocketeers! Good luck to everyone taking part!”