Budding rocket scientists put designs to the test in outback competition

In the outback of New South Wales, a competition for budding rocket scientists is taking place. About 20 student teams from across Australia, New Zealand, and India have gathered at White Cliffs, a remote sheep station, to launch their rocket designs several kilometres into the air. The Australian Universities Rocket Competition (AURC) is in its third year, and event director Jennifer He explains that the teams design and build their rockets from scratch, performing all verification and analysis. Some even manufacture parts in-house at their universities.

University of Queensland student Thomas Molesworth highlights the importance of the competition for both technical and interpersonal skills. "It's really cool to see," he adds. Most teams dedicate at least a year to designing their rockets, with University of Technology Sydney mechanical engineering student Matthew Sutcliffe competing for the second time. "Ever since I was a kid I d dreamed of working with rockets and space," he shares.

White Cliffs, located over 1,000 kilometres north-west of Sydney, is an ideal location for launches due to its clear airspace and distance from populated areas, ensuring safety. Endeavour Aerospace operations director Liam Grieve emphasizes the precision required, stating, "There are 1,000 things that need to go right." AYAA president Myrthe Snoeks notes the competition's growth since 2019 and hopes to see more international teams participate in future years.