University of Brighton students fly high in national rocketry competition

Competing in the UKSEDS National Rocketry Championship, the 14-strong team from the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering successfully designed, built, and launched a high-performance carbon fibre rocket equipped with student-developed electronics and carrying complex payloads – the equipment the rocket is designed to transport.

Their launch took place at the Midlands Rocketry Club, where the team’s rocket reached an altitude of 1,819 feet. While no teams reached the target of 2,500 feet, Brighton’s rocket performed exceptionally well and was successfully recovered with no damage – a testament to the students' technical ability and careful planning.

Since joining the competition in October 2024, the students have been working tirelessly outside of their regular studies – experimenting with materials, writing detailed technical reports, and test-launching prototypes at the Mid Sussex Flyers RC flying club. What began with simple cardboard rockets has evolved into a high-performance carbon fibre vehicle, packed with student-designed electronics and 3D-printed components.

Their final rocket featured a custom-built avionics system designed to track altitude throughout flight, as well as an onboard camera provided by the competition organisers to capture in-flight footage.

Although this was Brighton’s first year entering the competition, the students took the lead in organising the project themselves. After securing entry, they gained £1,300 in funding from the University to help cover the cost of specialist parts and materials.

Alexander Gooch, one of the team members, said: “For our first year competing, finishing 7th out of over 50 teams is an incredible achievement. We’ve learned so much from building and testing our designs, and it’s been amazing to see all our hard work come to life on launch day. We’re really proud of how far we’ve come and grateful for the support we’ve had."  

Dr Nicolas Miché, Principal Lecturer in the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering, said: “This is a fantastic result for our students and a proud moment for the School. Their dedication, innovation, and teamwork exemplify the kind of real-world problem-solving we strive to foster. Competitions like this give students a genuine edge in the aerospace industry and beyond.”

A key figure in the team’s success has been Principal Lecturer Ian Watts, who has actively mentored the students from the project’s inception. Ian was instrumental in organising access to the training launch site through the Mid-Sussex Model Flying Club and has provided invaluable guidance throughout the team’s development journey.

The challenge offered students hands-on experience in areas such as design, testing, and systems integration, helping them apply theoretical knowledge to real-world aerospace projects.

As part of the competition, the students also completed technical submissions throughout the year – including design reviews, reports, and safety assessments – mirroring the processes used in the aerospace industry.

The UK space sector continues to grow rapidly, attracting significant investment and generating over £17 billion annually. For the Brighton team, the competition offered valuable experience and a glimpse into career paths in this expanding field.

Their work reflects the University of Brighton’s commitment to hands-on learning, innovation, and supporting students to pursue bold, practical projects that prepare them for the future.