Menu
Close
Sign up for NPL updates
Close
Sign up for NPL updates

For people, place, prosperity and planet, we deliver impact with measurement science

Our use of cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them.

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. We do not use cookies for marketing purposes.

Analytics cookies

We utilise Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting information on how it's used.
Find out more

Outreach

NPL Water Rockets Challenge




Water Rockets Challenge

NPL’s Water Rockets Challenge 2024 was a great success, with over 500 attendees joining us as part of the 42 school teams, 26 evening teams and 40 teams/individuals taking part in our 'build your own rocket' workshop.

The event raised over £2,000 for local scouts.

The winning teams of 2024 were ‘The Atomic Lions’ from Bishop Wand CofE School and ‘Argentinian Penguin’ from 1st Twickenham Scouts.

Our 26th event is planned for June 2026.

We will continue with water rocket workshops in schools and youth groups throughout 2025.

How far can a water rocket go?

The challenge is to land an air pressurised rocket, using water as a propellant, exactly 70m from launch point, three times, with extra points for flight duration. We have a big annual festival on our site where teams compete.

On this page are some awesome videos, photos and results from previous years’ Water Rocket Challenges. 

What makes a water rocket successful?

We have some posters of water rocket scientific facts and design tips for short tube used for launching rockets, as well as a video made in association with a local school on the science of water rockets:

Download our comprehensive booklet about building water rockets which helps you improve flight and understand the physics involved.

Rocket Simulator

Check out this Water Rocket simulator software! It is described in the booklet and helps you improve flight and understand the physics involved (be amazed at the temperatures of water and air leaving the rocket).

Software: Water Rocket simulator  [Windows only 2.84MB]

 

Did you know?

NPL constructed a water rocket powered car which featured on the Gadget Show.

We also held the record for making the world's largest water rocket,
launched in 2011 – using 140 x 2 litre bottles and stood 3.4 m tall.

Contact us

#WaterRocketChallenge

   

Archive