A group of jittery engineering students got to see their hard work take flight on Monday morning, as the University of Malta’s rocketry team successfully launched their rocket at Pembroke’s firing range.
The rocket was angled slightly towards the sea for safety, while students and the public watched from a hill near the Institute of Education, sipping coffee and munching on pastizzi as they waited for liftoff.
The launch came months after the team faced disappointment at a European rocketry competition in Portugal, where their motor had blown up the day before the flight.
Undeterred, they rebuilt the motor and decided to attempt a launch in Malta instead. While the rocket was designed to reach 3 kilometres, safety constraints meant the team aimed for around 600 metres.
At 8.39am, the countdown began, and after a tense ten-second pause, the rocket soared 690 metres into the sky, curving towards the sea and leaving a trail of white smoke behind it.
Cheers erupted as the parachute deployed, mostly successfully, and the rocket splashed safely into the water. Apart from a minor parachute hiccup, the launch was deemed a resounding success, with the rocket returning intact and the students celebrating a milestone achievement.
Congratulations to all those involved!