Also thanked Malaysia Airlines for flying them to compete in the Spaceport America (SA) Cup 2022 in New Mexico, USA.

PENANG, 29 June 2022 – “It was truly a great exposure and experience for us, and most importantly we are truly indebted to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) which supported us all the way in our endeavours at the Spaceport America Cup 2022 last weekend.”

This was mentioned by USM Wau Rocketry team leader Vanmitha Athimoolan who reached Malaysian shores today with all her teammates and advisor, Dr. Norilmi Amilia Ismail, who had done their best in the competition held in the USA.

“Now we will wait for the results that will be announced this weekend by the organiser and we hope USM will shine, and may luck be with us,” she said.

Vanmitha added, “We wish to thank all our sponsors, in particular Malaysia Airlines, for sponsoring the flight tickets for most of our trip to the States.”

Spaceport America Cup 2022 is the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering conference and student rocket launch competition. For this competition, students all over the world will gather at this world-class spaceport facility to launch their self-built rocket.

Students are tasked to launch solid, liquid and hybrid rockets to targeted altitudes of 10,000 and 30,000 feet.

Adding further, Vanmitha said, this was also a platform that could give the opportunity for engineering students to get the bigger picture of what practicality is all about after they have gained the knowledge and input during their studies at USM.

“USM has provided us with the best education in assisting us to participate in a major project, and which is a big achievement in our lives,” she said.

The mission of the project was to launch a rocket at 10,000 feet and recover it safely and deploy a Nanosat that lands autonomously by using quadcopter technology.

This Wau Rocketry team consists of 9 Aerospace Engineering students, 2 Chemical Engineering students and 1 Mechanical Engineering student. The team named their rocket, HEBAT Rocket, which stands for H-Hardwork, E-Experience, B-Believe, A-Achieve, T-Together.

They are the first Malaysian team to participate in the Spaceport America Cup 2022 that was held in New Mexico, USA from 20 to 25 June 2022. The competition was organised by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA).

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa @ Apai