The University of Malta’s Rocketry Team officially unveiled their student-designed rocket during an event held at the Esplora Planetarium Hall, marking a major milestone in Malta’s journey into aerospace innovation. This rocket will represent Malta’s first-ever entry into the prestigious European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), which brings together university teams from across Europe to demonstrate technical excellence in rocketry.

The event welcomed students, academics, and public sector stakeholders, highlighting the University’s growing commitment to applied engineering and space-related innovation.

“This project showcases the exceptional talent and ambition of our students and reflects the University of Malta’s dedication to supporting hands-on, research-based learning,” said Dr Michael Quinton, representative of Xjenza Malta, during the opening remarks.

The UM Rocketry Team, composed of around 50 students from various faculties, has spent the past several months designing, building, and testing a fully functional rocket. In the coming weeks, the rocket will undergo a dry burn of its propulsion system as well as a live test launch aiming for an altitude of 1 kilometre. These milestones are essential in preparing for EuRoC 2025 in Portugal, where the team will compete to reach a 3-kilometre altitude.

The team is divided into three key areas of focus. The Rocket Design division is responsible for the structural and aerodynamic aspects of the rocket, ensuring stability and resilience during flight. The Propulsion Design division develops the engine and propulsion system with an emphasis on safety, efficiency, and high performance. Meanwhile, the IT and Telemetry division handles software development, real-time data collection, and live monitoring throughout testing and flight.

“What started as an ambitious idea among students has grown into a fully-fledged engineering project with national significance,” said Mr Francesco Cini, Founder and President of UM Rocketry.

The evening concluded with a networking session and up-close viewing of the rocket, offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about the technical challenges and achievements of the project.