The University of Aberdeen team put in an impressive performance at the biggest university-level rocketry competition in the UK.
The National Rocketry Championship (NRC) is organised annually by UKSEDS and challenges students to design, build and launch a rocket to an altitude of 2,500 feet. The competition is rigorous and attracts teams from various UK and international universities.
The Aberdeen team finished in ninth place launching a rocket to 350 metres (1148 ft). Standing at one metre tall their craft was primarily made from carbon fibre and 3D printed parts. The vessel’s passengers included a small brick smartphone and a commercial flight computer, which were both used to record data and keep communications with ground control during the rocket’s flight.
Aberdeen’s rocket had some unique features which made it stand out from the crowd including fins, which were put on at a slight angle to help create spin. This setup helped to stabilize the rocket during take-off and used centrifugal force to push the parachute out once it was released.
Consequently, instead of a typical ejection charge from the nose cone for parachute deployment, Aberdeen’s rocket had a mechanical side-door system that allowed the parachute to exit from the rocket’s body. Unlike other teams, Aberdeen also used lighter foaming PLA, instead of regular PLA for the 3D printed parts, which significantly reduced the rocket’s weight.
Luccas Ellery, a second year Linguistics student and member of the University's Rocketry Society, said: “Members found the NRC an enriching experience, with them learning more about launch procedures, UKRA, and more generally about what it takes to launch a rocket at an event like this. They also gained valuable insights into time management and also gained a lot from networking with other teams and establishing contacts with key people in the field.”