A team of talented rocket engineers from Teignmouth, who gained global recognition earlier this year, had their dreams of seeing space technology in action come true on a visit to the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Stevenage last month.

The teens from Teignmouth Community School (TCS) Rocket Club were treated to a behind the scenes look at cutting edge space engineering and technology on a rare tour of the facilities.

Highlights included seeing the Eurostar satellite cleanroom, touring robotics labs and exploring the Mars Yard where future Mars rovers are tested.

The students also designed their own satellite using computer-aided design (CAD) tools, which Airbus then printed and posted back to the school.

The Airbus visit was part of the students’ prize for winning the UK Rocketry Championships earlier this year.

Kaya Surman, Tom Porter, Keith Edwards and Sammy Porter, competing as Team Star-Ling, then went on to compete in the International Youth Rocketry Challenge at the Paris International Air Show in June where they narrowly missed out on winning the World Title.

‘Winning the UK competition was incredible, but visiting Airbus showed us where this journey can lead. It’s made us even more motivated for next year,’ the students said. ‘Everyone at Airbus was so welcoming. Talking to the engineers and hearing their stories made us feel like we were part of the space community,’ they added.

Staff at TCS said they were incredibly proud of the students’ curiosity and professionalism and that it was ‘inspiring to see the students’ passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in action’.

The school added that it is very grateful ‘to the amazing Airbus team an ADS Group Ltd for supporting and inspiring the next generation of engineers’.

Team Star-Ling’s next adventure will take them to London to talk about the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge with the government.

‘Later this month, we’ll be heading to the Houses of Parliament where the students will help promote the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge to MPs, alongside representatives from Airbus and ADS Group (the UK trade association for aerospace, defence, security and space)’, explained TCS tech teacher and rocketry club leader Mark Hawker.

TCS Rocket Club is already planning for next year’s competition. The success of Team Star-Ling has significantly boosted interest in the rocket club and the school now has three teams hoping to compete, up from two this year.

Vital funding has also been secured with EZ-Stor Ltd in Newton Abbot signing up as the first sponsor for the new season. ‘We would of course be delighted to welcome additional sponsors who wish to support the programme,’ Mark said.

TCS has only had a rocketry club for three years and it has reached the UK Rocketry Championships final every year. This year, both teams qualified. While Star-Ling won first place and went on to the international finals, the junior team showed great potential and placed third in the UK.