Over 100 young engineers blast off at the Northern Ireland Youth Rocketry Regional Final

  • 102 students took part in the largest Northern Ireland Regional Final of the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC)
  • Friends School Lisburn from Lisburn has been crowned the Northern Irish regional champions
  • Regional winners will now refine their rockets as they prepare for the National Final in June

Belfast (31 March 2026) – 22 teams from 9 schools and youth groups participated in the Northern Ireland Regional Final of the 2026 UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC).

The competition sees teams of students aged 11-18 design, build and launch a model rocket to an altitude of 750 feet, all while carrying a precious payload – a raw egg.

Hosted by RLC Group at Langford Lodge, Friends School Lisburn will now advance to the next stage of the competition where they will compete against fellow regional champions for the national title.

Running for over 20 years, the competition is organised by ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors and sponsored by industry partners Airbus, Frankenburg Technologies, and Saab UK.

Joseph Reffitt, ADS Northern Ireland Director, said:

“Huge congratulations to team ‘FSL Upper 6th Boys’ from Friends School Lisburn! The aerospace, defence, security and space industries continue to grow in Northern Ireland, and UKROC is vital to supporting this development. By inspiring the next generation, we help build a pipeline of future talent in a fun and practical way. Fingers crossed we see the Northern Ireland winners go all the way to the International Final at Farnborough International Airshow.”

Kata Escott, Managing Director at Airbus Defence and Space, and ADS VP for Space, commented:

“We are delighted to continue to support this competition. Airbus is committed to supporting initiatives that not only celebrate innovation but also inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. I am looking forward to seeing teams from across the UK progress to the National Final and the International Final at Farnborough International Airshow.”

Dan Hallett, UK Managing Director at Frankenburg Technologies, said:

“Specialising in rocket science, Frankenburg is extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication shown throughout the competition. The pipeline from UKROC into industry is essential, and by supporting the challenge we’re proud to help inspire and develop future engineering talent.”

Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, commented:

“Saab UK is driven to support the next generation of defence and engineering talent, and we’re impressed by the drive and expertise demonstrated by the teams taking part in UKROC. Initiatives like this give young people across the UK the chance to push their abilities, build confidence in their skills and creativity, and take meaningful steps toward future careers in our industry. Their passion and potential are truly inspiring.”

Team ‘FSL Upper 6th Boys’ from Friends School Lisburn will now refine their rocket before joining other regional champions for the National Final on 25 June in Buckminster.

The 2026 UKROC competition will see over 1,600 schoolchildren from throughout the UK compete in nine regional events. The winners of the National Final will go on to Farnborough International Airshow 2026 where they go rocket-to-rocket with teams from the United States, Japan and France to become the International Youth Rocketry Champions.

Register interest for 2027 now.

Rocketry challenge inspires future workforce of 70 Welsh schoolchildren

Image credit to Ben Adams Photography

  • 17 teams competed in the largest Welsh Regional Final of the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC)
  • Haverfordwest High VC School in Pembrokeshire has been crowned the Welsh regional Champions
  • Regional winners will now refine their rockets as they prepare for the National Finals in June

Snowdonia (31 March 2026) – 17 teams from 9 schools and youth groups took part in the Welsh Regional Final of the 2026 UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) to compete for a spot in the UKROC National Final.

The competition sees teams of students aged 11-18 design, build and launch a model rocket to an altitude of 750 feet, all while carrying a precious payload – a raw egg.

Hosted by Snowdonia Space Centre, students at Haverfordwest High VC School from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire will now advance to the next stage of the competition where they will compete against fellow regional champions for the national title.

Running for over 20 years, the competition is organised by ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors and sponsored by industry partners Airbus, Frankenburg Technologies, and Saab UK.

Paul Oxley, Director General of ADS Skills, said:

“Congratulations to everyone who has competed in the regional finals! At ADS, we’re committed to building a strong pipeline of talent to meet the demands of the future. Continued support for initiatives like this is vital to tackling the UK’s growing skills gap and opening up high quality career opportunities for young people across the country. With our most in demand competition to date, I’m excited to see the level of talent heading into the National Final — best of luck to all!”

Jeremy Howitt, Snowdonia Aerospace Centre said:

“As the proud hosts of today’s event, we congratulate all the schools for their remarkable effort. It was fantastic to see the excitement and passion for rocketry and STEM throughout the day. Wales is home to major players in advanced manufacturing, and by giving back, we help secure the sector’s future success. Here at Snowdonia Space Centre, we understand the vital role that aerospace, defence and space sectors play in developing skills and inspiring the next generation.”

Kata Escott, Managing Director at Airbus Defence and Space, and ADS VP for Space, commented:

“We are delighted to continue to support this competition. Airbus is committed to supporting initiatives that not only celebrate innovation but also inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. I am looking forward to seeing teams from across the UK progress to the National Final and the International Final at Farnborough International Airshow.”

Dan Hallett, UK Managing Director at Frankenburg Technologies, said:

“Specialising in rocket science, Frankenburg is extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication shown throughout the competition. The pipeline from UKROC into industry is essential, and by supporting the challenge we’re proud to help inspire and develop future engineering talent.”

Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, commented:

“Saab UK is driven to support the next generation of defence and engineering talent, and we’re impressed by the drive and expertise demonstrated by the teams taking part in UKROC. Initiatives like this give young people across the UK the chance to push their abilities, build confidence in their skills and creativity, and take meaningful steps toward future careers in our industry. Their passion and potential are truly inspiring.”

Team ‘Space Eggs’ from Haverfordwest High VC School will now refine their rocket before joining other regional champions for the National Final on 25 June in Buckminster.

The 2026 UKROC competition will see over 1,600 schoolchildren from throughout the UK compete in nine regional events. The winners of the National Final will go on to Farnborough International Airshow 2026 where they go rocket-to-rocket with teams from the United States, Japan and France to become the International Youth Rocketry Champions.

Register interest for 2027 now.

16 teams of Scottish schoolchildren take flight in the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge

  • 77 students took part in the largest Scottish Regional Final of the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC)
  • Bellahouston Academy from Glasgow has been crowned the Scottish regional champions
  • Regional winners will now refine their rockets as they prepare for the National Finals in June

Kinross (31 March 2026) – The Scottish Regional Final of the 2026 UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) saw 16 teams from 10 schools and youth groups battle it out for a spot in the UKROC National Final.

The competition sees teams of students aged 11-18 design, build and launch a model rocket to an altitude of 750 feet, all while carrying a precious payload – a raw egg.

Hosted at Kinross Radio Model Flying Club, students at Bellahouston Academy from Glasgow will now advance on to the next stage of the competition where they will compete against fellow regional champions for the national title.

Running for over 20 years, the competition is organised by ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors and sponsored by industry partners Airbus, Frankenburg Technologies and Saab UK.

Warrick Malcolm, ADS Scotland Director, said:

“Congratulations to all the teams that competed in the Scottish regional! UKROC continues to support young people interested in careers across ADS’ sectors, helping them build confidence and practical engineering skills. Scotland boasts a thriving aerospace, defence, security and space ecosystem — one that truly values the skills and talent it attracts. Best of luck to all the teams progressing to the National Final.”

Kata Escott, Managing Director at Airbus Defence and Space, and ADS VP for Space, commented:

“We are delighted to continue to support this competition. Airbus is committed to supporting initiatives that not only celebrate innovation but also inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. I am looking forward to seeing teams from across the UK progress to the National Final and the International Final at Farnborough International Airshow.”

Dan Hallett, UK Managing Director at Frankenburg Technologies, said:

“Specialising in rocket science, Frankenburg is extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication shown throughout the competition. The pipeline from UKROC into industry is essential, and by supporting the challenge we’re proud to help inspire and develop future engineering talent.”

Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, commented:

“Saab UK is driven to support the next generation of defence and engineering talent, and we’re impressed by the drive and expertise demonstrated by the teams taking part in UKROC. Initiatives like this give young people across the UK the chance to push their abilities, build confidence in their skills and creativity, and take meaningful steps toward future careers in our industry. Their passion and potential are truly inspiring.”

Team ‘Normal Rocket’ from Bellahouston Academy will now refine their rocket before joining other regional champions for the National Final on 25 June in Buckminster.

The 2026 UKROC competition will see over 1,600 schoolchildren from throughout the UK compete in nine regional events. The winners of the National Final will go on to Farnborough International Airshow 2026 where they will go rocket-to-rocket with teams from the United States, Japan and France to become the International Youth Rocketry Champions.

Register interest for 2027 now.

13 Essential Tips Ahead of Regionals

It’s only one week until the UKROC 2026 Regionals kick off. Launching first in Scotland, we’re excited to bring together more than 400 teams for our most in‑demand competition yet. This year, we’re hosting nine Regional Events — the most we’ve ever delivered — and we can’t wait to welcome teams from across the UK. As teams make their final preparations, now is the perfect time to focus on the small details that can make a big difference on launch day.

13 Steps to Help You Become UKROC Regional Winners

  1. Keep it simple.
    If this is your first year, don’t overcomplicate things. Focus on a straightforward rocket that can reliably hit the required altitude and flight time. Fancy mechanisms can wait.
  2. Avoid hot glue at all costs.
    Rockets get hot. Hot glue melts when rockets get hot. It’s a bad combination — use stronger, heat‑resistant adhesives instead.
  3. Dry‑fit before you commit.
    Test how every component fits before gluing. It’s much easier to adjust something that isn’t already fixed in place.
  4. Check your alignment.
    If your rocket uses more than one motor, make sure they all line up correctly with the direction of flight. Misalignment = unstable flight.
  5. Match your real weight to your simulation.
    After building, weigh your rocket and compare it to the simulated weight in RockSim or OpenRocket. If it’s different, override the weight and re‑run the simulation.
  6. Too low? Review your motor choice.
    If your rocket isn’t reaching altitude, check whether you’re using the right motor. Your simulation should tell you.
  7. Too high? Same rule applies.
    If your rocket is overshooting, you may need a different motor. Again — check your simulation.
  8. Coming down too quickly?
    Your parachute might be too small. Review your descent rate and check your deployment.
  9. Coming down too slowly?
    A parachute that’s too large can drift too far or affect your flight time. Adjust the size if needed.
  10. Understand your altimeter.
    Know how to arm it, read it, and reset it. Always start the day with a new or fully charged battery.
  11. Learn how to fold your parachute properly.
    A well‑packed parachute makes all the difference for a clean deployment.
  12. Keep a logbook.
    Record decisions, changes, test results, and observations. It’s invaluable for improvements — and great engineering practice. While Regionals don’t require this, it’s a key part of preparing for the National and International Finals.
  13. Test fly whenever possible.
    Nothing beats real flight experience. A test launch will tell you more than hours of discussion.

We can’t wait to see all the teams, rockets and launches over the next month. In the meantime, if you have any issues, please contact us at ukroc@adsgroup.org.uk, and keep up to date with all the action on our Instagram and Facebook.

Over 1600 students to kick start their career with the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge

  • Aspiring astronauts, STEM enthusiasts, rocket scientists and engineers will take part in UKROC’s most in-demand competition to date.
  • 422 teams from 234 schools and youth clubs will go head-to-head.
  • The UK champions will represent the UK at the International Youth Rocketry Final at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.

London (5 March 2026) – Team registrations for the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) 2026 are in, and the numbers are at an all-time high, with more than 1600 students from 422 teams at 234 schools and youth groups set to take part. The competition sees teams of students aged 11-18 design, build and launch a model rocket carrying a precious payload – an egg.

Compared to last year’s figures, registrations are up by more than 40% – the second consecutive record year. Sponsored by industry partners Airbus, Frankenburg Technologies, and Saab, this year’s competition will include nine regional events across the UK throughout March and April, followed by the UK National Final in June.

UK Rocketry on a global scale

The competition will culminate at the International Youth Rocketry Final at the Farnborough International Airshow in July, where the winning UK team will compete against teams from the United States, Japan, and France. Building the teams’ confidence and engineering skills, the competition involves presenting to a panel of industry professionals on their journey from start to finish.

Organised by ADS for the twentieth-year running, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors, the competition has been running annually since 2006.

STEM skills shortages continue to pose a significant challenge for the UK economy, with the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors consistently reporting more than 10,000 vacancies across their industries. UKROC acts as an entry point for participants into industry, allowing participants to meet experts and leaders, making connections for their future career.

Register interest for 2027 now.