UKROC 2026 – Meet the Teams – Normal Rocket
In the lead up to the UKROC 2026 National Final, we’re spotlighting the teams behind the rockets! Meet Team Normal Rocket…
Intro
- Team name – Normal Rocket
- School/club – Bellahouston Academy
- Region/location – Scotland
- Fun fact – We broke a whole carton of eggs during our testing that we borrowed from the Home Economics department. We had to buy them a new box…!
How did you find out about UKROC?
Our teacher, Mr Wang, was a part of the GU Rocketry Society for three years while at Glasgow University. When he started teaching he founded the Rocketry Club at Bellahouston and discovered UKROC. Bellahouston now has the most UKROC teams in Scotland!
What have you enjoyed most about the UKROC project?
- Building something real and practical, it was cool to design something on the computers and make it in real life.
- Getting real engineering experience, from running the aerodynamic simulations on OpenRocket, to laser cutting and 3D-printing our parts, the whole process was very engaging and practical.
- Being competitive in a new type of way – not just for a football team or a video game, but to see who could design and build the best rocket!
Would you encourage other teams to enter the competition?
Definitely, it has been the most rewarding and fun part of the year for us. From the excitement of the rockets flying off the launch rail, to the tense moments where we had to wait to see if our parachutes deployed, the day of the regional competition was super fun, busy, and totally worth the effort.
What does the teacher/club leader think about UKROC?
It is a valuable, engaging, and intensely rewarding event to participate in. The pupils had the time of their lives seeing their project launch into the sky after the months of work to design and manufacture them.
Why did your school/club want to get involved in UKROC?
Our school wanted to get involved to give the kids a sense of accomplishment and pride with something they designed and manufactured themselves. From being part of the Uni society, I knew just how exciting it could be to build and fly your own rockets as part of a team. With so many of the team members wanting to pursue engineering after they leave school, it was important for me to give the pupils a real taste of what it’s like to engage in a practical project with real life stakes.
Want to share your experience? Email us ukroc@adsgroup.org.uk.