Rocket appears at Alsop High School

Alsop High School students in Walton were stunned when a functioning rocket appeared on the grounds of the school for British Science Week. All was revealed in special assemblies with a commercial space company.

Entrepreneur Steve Bennett, founder of Starchaser Industries, hosted a Rocket Propulsion assembly for Alsop students in Years 8 and 9. Mr Bennett spoke about the aims of Starchaser as part of their Educational Outreach Programme.

Starchaser began in 1992 and since then has built and launched a number of highly successful rockets. The company has developed and tested some of the UK’s largest rocket engines, and conducted manned flight tests of their own space capsules.

The space tourism firm, which aims to educate and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and space explorers, launched a 27-foot research rocket from Northumberland, England, in 2017. Skybolt 2 was created as result of a collaboration between the University of Chester and Starchaser. At the time of its launch, it was the UK’s biggest operational research rocket. 

Mr Mulvanney, a science teacher at Alsop High School, said: “Alsop students were incredibly excited to see the rocket and asked many questions. 

“We hope that the Starchaser presentation has helped to educate and inspire our students to be the next generation of engineers, scientists and space explorers.”

Mr Masher, headteacher of the school, said: “Many students took a picture with the rocket and were thrilled to see a demonstration of a rocket launch. 

“This was a fantastic opportunity for our students and we are very grateful that Starchaser chose to visit Alsop High School.”