Northern Ireland Students Crowned Rocketry Champions After Blasting Off at Regional Final
A team of young engineers from Friends School Lisburn has been crowned Northern Ireland's rocketry champions after competing against more than 100 students at the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge regional final — and they will now represent the region at the national competition in June.
The Friends School Lisburn team beat off stiff competition from schools across Northern Ireland to take the top prize, earning their place at the UK national final and the chance to represent the country at the International Youth Rocketry Championships at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026.
Background
The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) is an annual competition organised by the aerospace trade association ADS, designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. Students aged 11 to 18 design, build, and launch model rockets, with teams judged on accuracy, altitude, and the safe recovery of their rocket and payload.
This year's Northern Ireland regional final saw over 1,600 students across the UK take part in the broader competition, with the Lisburn school emerging as the standout team from the province.
Why It Matters
For the students involved, the competition offers a hands-on introduction to engineering, physics, and teamwork — skills that are increasingly in demand in Northern Ireland's growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors. The Farnborough Airshow, where the international final will be held, is one of the world's premier aerospace events, giving the winning team an extraordinary platform to showcase their work.
What's Next
The Friends School Lisburn team will now prepare for the UK National Final in June 2026. The winner will go on to represent the UK at the international championships at Farnborough. Full details at UKROC.
