University of Surrey students win trio of awards

A team of engineering students from the University of Surrey found success not one, but three times in competitions in which competitors design, build and launch rockets and satellites.

The competitions were all hosted by UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS).

Peryton Space, the Surrey Team, was led by undergraduate Tommy Richards who is studying Aerospace Engineering.

He said: “I think we did so well because we’re dedicated, worked well as a team, and ensured close collaboration between mechanical engineers and electronic engineers. And it certainly helped being able to use the fantastic Surrey Space Centre facilities, which space businesses come in to use too.” 

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First, Peryton won the Mach-23 Rocketry 1.5 Category, which involved designing, building and launching a rocket that had to get as close as possible to a maximum height of 1.5km, as well as releasing a payload from the rocket.

Next, they won the Best Satellite Award in the Satellite Design Competition, which challenged the team to design a small CubeSat to measure the speed and size of small pieces of space debris.

Most recently, the team received a special mention in the National Rocketry Championship. They achieved two successful launches with their rocket, Geiger Nova, which contained a 100g payload holding a Geiger counter to measure radioactive material in the air.

Surrey Space Centre’s Dr Chris Bridges, who supported Peryton Space, said: “Peryton Space has truly excelled.

''The skills they developed through the competitions are exactly the ones needed in the space industry, which is much stronger than many people realise in the UK; it generates over £3bn of income in Surrey and Hampshire alone.

''The University of Surrey is well known for successfully preparing its students for employment in the sector.”

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