Successful UC rocket launch - but data lost

The rocket launch that had some Birdlings Flat residents concerned went ahead on Friday with no issues.

Some residents were unaware that the rocket was launched at 11.45am from Kaitorete Spit beach.

• UC addresses rocket launch concerns

Safety measures were put in place by the University of Canterbury Aerospace team and the rocket launched safely but due to missing data, the team cannot confirm whether they hit their record setting target.

The aim was to exceed the current altitude record for a student-led rocket programme held by the University of Southern California, which reached 104km.

“It launched perfectly, out in the direction that it was meant to go. Unfortunately, we just lost that data so we can’t prove it,” said project leader Jack Davies.

Davies said the launch looked good from the ground but they lost the telemetry link that was sending information from the rocket back to them.

“We lost that link just after the first stage burn so we weren’t able to get all of the data we needed to figure out how high it went.”

The team is currently collating all the data they do have from the ground to try and get a full picture of the performance and how high the rocket went.

They hope to have another go within the year.

“Everyone is pretty happy, they all thought it was quite cool. Everyone is really keen to do another one,” Davies said.