The challenge is based upon the successful Team America Rocketry Challenge, the largest model rocket showcase in the USA. This has been running for 5 years and this year had over 670 teams from 47 states taking part with more than 40 Industrial sponsors. A total of $60,000 was awarded in prizes and was organised by the US Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and National Association of Rocketry (NAR).

The purpose of UKAYRoC is to “To provide secondary school students a realistic experience in designing a flying aerospace vehicle that meets a specified set of mission and performance requirements”. The overall aim is to encourage students to take up Science, Engineering and Aerospace as a career.

The 2008 mission requirement is to design, build and launch a rocket that can achieve an altitude of exactly 750 feet with flight duration of exactly 45 seconds from lift-off to touchdown.  The rocket also has to carry two (2) raw hen’s eggs which have to survive the flight intact.  Penalties are awarded for deviating from the altitude and flight duration.

The top 20 qualifying teams will be invited to attend the UKAYRoC Finals Fly-Off at Charterhouse School, Surrey on Fri 28^th March 2008 to win the top prize of a trip to the USA finals of TARC May 2008.

The 2007 winning team was from Buttershaw Enterprise College, Bradford who won the UK fly-off held at Charterhouse School and in addition to a cash prize travelled to the USA to attend the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) finals near Washington DC held on 19th May 2007.

****STOP PRESS**** New for 2008, there is a Sponsors Challenge, whereby a team from the sponsors can be entered according to the same rules as the student teams for a Special Sponsors Fly-off event after the main finals fly-off.

For full details visit the website – www.UKAYRoC.org.uk