The UK has a rapidly growing space launch capability, with
spaceports now being
actively developed and constructed across the country and with
orbital launches to
be expected soon. With these spaceports, many new rocket companies
have also been
established within the last few years, aiming to capture the
constantly growing
market demand for orbital launch capabilities.
Students and apprentices across the UK are increasingly
participating in rocketry
activities. Whilst UKSEDS National Rocketry Championship uses G
class motors which
require no UKRA license, high power competitions such as Mach, EuRoC
and Spaceport
America Cup allow for solid rocket motors that require UKRA L1 and
above
licences.
UKSEDS has identified a lack of students undertaking their UKRA
qualifications and
instead they are skipping to high power motors without the necessary
experience.
Project Odyssey is UKSEDS's solution. The idea is to provide an
opportunity to
gain the required experience to use as evidence for a UKRA L1 whilst
providing
exciting challenges that most students will have never attempted.
The figure below outlines the challenges associated with each
level of Project Odyssey. Sucessful competition of the gold level
with evidence
submitted and a completed flight card would be sufficient for a
participant to claim
their L1 from the United Kingdom Rocketry Association. Please
note: the UKRA Level 1 process is only applicable to individuals
and not teams.
UKSEDS would like to extend their gratitude to Paul Carter, UKRA
Chair and the rest
of the United Kingdom Rocketry Association for their support in
setting up Project
Odyssey. We would also like to thank Skyrora for kindly sponsoring
the Project.
If you have any questions or inquiries please contact
rocketry@ukseds.org