UKROC

The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) is a national competition that introduces young people to real aerospace engineering through the design, construction, and launch of model rockets. Teams of students work together to build a rocket capable of carrying a fragile payload safely to a target altitude and landing it intact, all while meeting strict design rules and performance criteria.

UKROC gives students a chance to experience the full engineering cycle  planning, designing, building, testing, and refining in a fun, competitive, and hands‑on environment. It’s one of the UK’s largest STEM competitions, with winners progressing to an international final against teams from the United States, France, and Japan.

Mentoring UKROC Teams  

We guide teams through the full UKROC process; from understanding the rules and constraints to designing, building, and testing their rockets. Our members share practical advice on stability, recovery systems, payload protection, and safe construction techniques.

Workshops and Talks  

We deliver interactive sessions covering the fundamentals of rocketry, aerodynamics, thrust, and safety. Where possible, we include hands‑on activities such as stability checks, fin design discussions, and payload packing demonstrations.

Launch Day Support  

ManSEDS members attend UKROC launches to help teams with pre‑flight checks, safe launch procedures, and post‑flight analysis. We also help students interpret their results and think about improvements for future flights.

Inspiration and Progression  

We showcase the kinds of projects students can get involved with at university, including hybrid engines, high‑power rockets, rovers, satellites, and in‑flight experiments. This helps young people see how their UKROC experience can grow into larger, more advanced missions.

Unique Launch Opportunities

ManSEDS is a unique university society able to offer independent launch opportunities before the UKROC competition. This gives teams a rare chance to:

• test their rockets in real conditions

• gain confidence with launch procedures

• collect flight data and refine their designs

• experience multiple launches before competition day

We have extensive experience running launch events directly on school grounds, working closely with staff to ensure safety and smooth operations. ManSEDS already has all the required infrastructure, risk assessments, and insurance processes in place, allowing us to deliver safe, well‑managed launch days that give students invaluable hands‑on experience.