As commemorations take place across the globe to mark the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, one Hyde company marked the occasion by unveiling its biggest ever rocket!
Starchaser Industries was founded in 1992 with a vision to inspire and enrich society by contributing to permanent human presence in space.
It’s founder and managing director, Steve Bennett, was inspired by the moon landing as a five-year-old. He was at St James’ Catholic High School in Cheadle Hulme on Tuesday to inspire the next generation.
Steve and the team at Starchaser unveiled ‘Nova 2’, a rocket that took ten years and more than £500,000 to build. When it’s launched next April, it will be the biggest rocket every flown from the UK.
Steve explained: “The rocket is standing 9m tall but when we actually fly it, it will be a full 12m. It’s going to go up so far, then we’re going to fire up a launch escape rocket and get the capsule off, to prove we can get the capsule away from the main rocket if there is an emergency. That’s the point of this.
Fitted out with seating and control panels, the Nova 2 capsule has already been used for manned re-entry and landing tests, when it was released from an aeroplane above the Red Lake Desert in Arizona.
The carbon fibre rocket will weigh around a tonne and carry a crash test dummy on its first launch in April. It will soar 18,000ft into the air before returning safely via parachute.
The Year 9 pupils at St James’ were fascinated by Nova 2, with the rocket brought into school as part of their Curriculum Excellence Week.
Assistant Headteacher Steve Guscott said: “We give students a chance to do things they wouldn’t normally do. We do a lot of science but we like to give them some fantastic, hands-on experiences.
“Today, Starchaser have come from Hyde to show the kids how the rocket works. They’ll learn about propulsion, make their own rockets and then launch them from the school field. It’s really good because it’s all in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.”
And while Steve Bennett was gripped by the events of 1969, he’s hoping that Starchaser can rouse interest in science, engineering and space travel.
He said: “I remember watching the moon landing on TV. I thought, ‘I’m going to grow up and build big rockets like that!’
“One day, someone is going to land on Mars and it’s going to be fantastic if that first person to land on Mars says, “I was inspired to do this because this crazy bloke with a rocket came to my school when I was in Year 9!””
Starchaser is promising a “really, really spectacular” launch for Nova 2 in April next year and they’re looking for people who want to either help out or go along and watch. You can get in touch by calling Starchaser 0161 882 9922, e-mailing star-chaser@outlook.com or visiting www.starchaser.co.uk/contact-us.
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