We are a Cantabrian group passionate about building and launching rockets. Our goal is to support aerospace and STEM in the community, inspire youth with technology, and contribute to the expanding domestic aerospace industry. We aim to guide interested individuals into high-power rocketry and aerospace careers, leveraging our extensive knowledge and local industry connections.
Anyone is welcome to join our launches and workshops. Check out our events or contact page, or Facebook to explore the world of rocketry with us.
Model Rocketry in Christchurch
Christchurch has a proud legacy in rocketry, being the first city in New Zealand to create an official Model Rocketry Association and importer.
In the mid-90s, Norm Sisson from Model Boat Supplies, with assistance from Gerry Munden of Aerospace Education, began importing model rockets and motors from the U.S. They organized numerous rocket launches in Christchurch, including public events at South Hagley Park that drew hundreds of spectators, as well as launches at jet-sprint competitions.
In 2019, the Christchurch Rocketeers were established to address the growing interest in model rocketry throughout Canterbury. Since then, we've held monthly launches (excluding Level 3 and 4 lockdown periods) at Nunweek Park, with strong support from the local community and significant engagement from schools and the public.
Our partnership with the University of Canterbury Aerospace Club creates a clear pathway for those interested in aerospace careers. We have previously collaborated with UCA to offer a "Hot-Rocket" class at Cashmere High School, held build workshops at local Space Camps, and initiated rocket-building sessions at Tūranga Library's Learning Centre, now hosted at Matatiki (Hornby). Simon Willowby-Martin, serving as an EngineeringNZ "Wonder Project Ambassador," has also led STEM lessons through water rocket workshops, emphasizing iterative design principles.
With the launch of the Canterbury Aerospace Sector Plan and the push for an aerospace "Hub," our rocketry group is well-positioned to contribute to this regional initiative. We’ve built strong connections within the Christchurch Aerospace community and regularly engage in Aerospace Christchurch meetups.
Workshops and Outreach Programs
In 2020, Tūranga Library Learning Centre invited us to trial free community rocket-building workshops using their laser cutter, 3D printer, vacuum former, and vinyl printer. These resources enabled us to produce kitsets in-house, significantly reducing costs and allowing us to offer them to the public with minimal overhead, generously supported by the library.
The workshops, held during World Space Week, proved very popular, attracting numerous families and teenagers from across Christchurch to build flight-worthy, reusable model rockets.
Following this success, two high schools have reached out to us to incorporate similar workshops into their physics curricula. Our goal with these workshops is to promote STEM learning and interests in Otautahi Christchurch, creating pathways into the Canterbury Aerospace sector and supporting its regional growth.
These sessions cover topics like iterative design, Newton's laws of motion, thrust/drag principles, aerodynamics, health and safety, and visual design. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our focus to include STEM-based rocketry lessons and launches at low-decile and girls-only schools, working to create a more equitable STEM field at tertiary and industry levels.
Model rocketry captivates participants of all ages, linking with current industry efforts such as Rocket Lab, Dawn Aerospace, NASA’s Artemis missions, and other global space programs.