A Sixth-form pupil at Rydal Penrhos School recently soared into first place at a summer school held at the University of Leicester. Will Turner and two other students beat around 80 other participants to take first place in the Rocket Building and Launch assignment at Leicester University’s Senior Space School. Together with two other students, Will designed and built the basic rocket structure from scratch, and used mathematics to explore the theoretical principles that underpin rocket design and propulsion. Part of the brief was that the rocket had to include a glider. The rocket designed by Will and his team flew the highest, and the glider which utilised a delta wing design, deployed at the correct time, gliding the furthest and for the longest time.
Senior Space School UK is an annual residential summer school held at the University of Leicester that is aimed primarily at students preparing for their A-levels and who have a strong interest in all things space-related. It also provides valuable opportunities for students to meet space scientists, academics and potential employers. Will who is currently studying Physics, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at A-Level, is hoping to go onto University to study a physics related degree, and said that the week spent at Leicester University was ‘lots of fun and I will certainly make use of many of things I learnt there.’