A message from 2024 Spaceport America Cup Team UC lead, James Graham
The opportunity to compete against 150 university rocketry teams from around the world is very exciting.
16 May 2024
UC Aerospace’s team for 2024’s Spaceport America Cup is putting the final touches on the new rocket that we will be taking to New Mexico for this year’s competition in June.
Last year, Team UC won first in our category (30k apogee) and third overall, and this year we’re hoping that we will win first overall and bring home the Genesis Cup from the world’s largest intercollegiate rocketry competition.
For our team, the opportunity to compete against 150 university rocketry teams from around the world is very exciting.
Called Kārearea after the New Zealand Falcon, the rocket is designed to reach a top speed that’s twice the speed of sound, and to hit the exact height of 30,000 feet (approximately 10 kilometres). It’s equipped with our unique air braking system, which we used for our winning rocket last year, but we are developing it further. Kārearea had a successful straight flight and recovery during our first test launch at the beginning of the month, which was awesome to see.
In the final weeks leading up to the competition in June, we’re focusing on perfecting the controls, reviewing flight safety, fine-tuning the air brakes, and hitting the perfect target height.
It’s always exhilarating to press the launch button, of course, but my favourite is the conference day, where we get to meet and talk to teams from other universities who all have their own specialties in rocketry, like having liquid rocket engines that they’ve designed and built.
So, will you help get Team UC to the USA and towards first place by making a donation today?
Your donation will give us a much-needed boost. Not only will you be helping with the travel expenses to get the team over to the USA, but it will also help ensure that future development can continue to push UC forward on the world stage.
You’ll also be giving us moral encouragement through your belief in our team and what we can achieve.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope that we’ll be able to send you a good news update from New Mexico soon!
Ngā mihi,
James Graham
UC Aerospace, Spaceport America Cup team lead 2024
Team UC 2024 From left: Thomas Gawn, Elliott Alloo, Darcy Green, Mia Dicey, James Graham (Team lead), Oliver Clements, Stefan Caird. Absent: Caleb Melchers, Rushil Gentejohann.
