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The UKSEDS National Rocketry Championship is a prestigious annual competition organized by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS).
Its primary goal is to provide university students and apprentices, particularly those with limited rocketry experience, hands-on experience in the end-to-end process of designing, building, and launching a mid-power rocket.
Participants: Teams of up to 10 university students
The Challenge: Teams must design, build, and launch a mid-power rocket with the core objective of reaching a specific target altitude, often 2,500 feet (approx. 762 meters).
Payload Requirement: The rocket must carry a payload, adding a layer of complexity and mirroring real-world launch missions. In recent years, this has included both a "Customer's payload" (provided by UKSEDS) and a "rideshare payload" (provided by the team).
Judging Criteria: Scoring is based on several factors, including:
Flight Performance: Achieving the target altitude with precision, successful launch, and successful recovery (minimal damage).
Technical Documentation: Submitting detailed technical reports and design justifications.
Innovation: Novel design features or technical solutions.
Our Golden Rocket
Our Purple Rocket
We're working on it
The NRC serves as an important entry point into the space and aerospace engineering sector. It emphasizes not only technical skills but also project management, teamwork, and industry-standard documentation, making it a valuable learning experience for aspiring engineers and scientists. The competition culminates in an in-person launch day, often in partnership with organizations like the United Kingdom Rocketry Association (UKRA).