UK youth rocketry challenge lifts off for 2022

The UK ROC competition is aimed at teams of young people aged 11-18 to design, build and launch their own rocket. In late March 2022, the teams will compete against…


The UK ROC competition is aimed at teams of young people aged 11-18 to design, build and launch their own rocket. In late March 2022, the teams will compete against others within their region for a place in the national finals, which will be held in May 2022 to be crowned national champions.

The national final champions win an all-expenses paid trip to Farnborough, 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.

Payload of two raw eggs must remain intact

UK ROC involves the design, build, and launch of a model rocket, with the payload of two raw eggs representing the astronauts. The rocket must get closest to at least 835 feet in altitude within a goal timeframe of 41-44 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.

ADS Chief Executive, Kevin Craven said: “The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge is a fantastic example of how the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors can support and encourage young people into fascinating and rewarding careers in our four flourishing sectors.”

“Future success of our sectors driven by new generation of talent”

“The future success of our sectors will be driven by a new generation of talent with transferable skills and qualifications in STEM subjects. UK ROC is the perfect opportunity to inspire young people to consider high-value, high-wage and high-skilled career opportunities in the aerospace, defence and space industries.”

“The 11–18-year-olds who take part in this competition are unlocking their potential to kickstart successful and rewarding careers in sectors that are a source of national pride and critical to support UK’s national and international net zero by 2050 goals. I am delighted that the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge has strong support from across the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors and look forward to this year’s challenge being bigger and better than before – it would be a brilliant achievement for a UK team to triumph over teams from the USA, Japan and France in the international finals.”

To register, click here.

Video courtesy of ADS Group: The finalists of the 2021 UK ROC challenge go head to head

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