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RNZ News
2 days ago
- Science
- RNZ News
Waikato amateur rocket scientists hoping to soar at international competition
The Astronautics Club launched its rocket this weekend as they prepare to compete in Australia. Photo: University of Waikato A group of amateur Waikato rocket scientists are heading to an international competition after a successful final practice launch of their creation 'Takahe'. The rocket, built by the University of Waikato Astro-nautics Club, will go up against other creations in the out back of New South Wales in August as part of the Aussie Universities Rocketary Competition. They're in the 10,000 feet category; the closer their rockets gets to that target height, the more points they score, so they don't want to go over or under. Takahe, which comes from a long line of rockets named after flightless birds, has already been launched four times. "This is our best rocket so far," University of Waikato Astronautics Club president Reuben Buckley told Checkpoint. "... Other then the fact it has flown more than our rockets, and most rockets that make it to this competition, the attention to detail on all the parts and how well its put together. The team spent endless hours working on Takahe and making sure that everything is exactly how it needs to be." The 2.4 metre rocket will be joined by six students that make up the only team from New Zealand in the competition. While Buckley could not reveal just how far the rocket is reached, he said it has gone a "fair way". The team had their final lift off before the competition on the weekend. "I got to press the button for the first time on Sunday. I was pretty nervous. Letting $23,000 fly into the air like that it's pretty nerve-wracking," Buckley said. "... It's a spectacle every time." The club has also got their eyes on a 30,000 feet competition in the US next year and are hoping for sponsors to help fund both their trips. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Science
- RNZ News
Waikato rocket builders to blast off in international comp
technology about 1 hour ago A group of amateur Waikato rocket scientists need a funding boost if they are going to make it all the way to international competitions, after a sucessful final practice launch of their creation, Takahe. The rocket built by the University of Waikato Astronautics Club will go up against other creations in the outback of New South Wales in August as part of the Aussie Universities Rocketary Competition. They've also got their hopes cast further afield, aiming for bigger competitions in the US. University of Waikato Astronautics Club president Reuben Buckley spoke to Lisa Owen.
