SKA Rocketry wins award at international FAR-OUT competition
SKA Rocketry wins award at international FAR-OUT competition
The SKA Rocketry team, a division of the Student Astronautics Association at the Warsaw University of Technology, was among the Polish teams representing their country at the international FAR-OUT competition in California. The team returned from the Mojave Desert not only with valuable experience, but also with an award for Best Technical Report.
FAR-OUT 2026 was the third edition of the competition organised by Friends of Amateur Rocketry for teams developing hybrid and liquid-propellant rockets. This year’s event included a conference at the Stuart O. Witt Event Center at the Mojave Air & Space Port, two days of preparation, and three launch days. Organisers described it as the largest edition in the competition’s history, with more than 220 students from the United States, Poland, and Mexico taking part.
SKA Rocketry at International FAR-OUT Competition in California
SKA Rocketry’ rocket at International FAR-OUT Competition in California
The Warsaw team arrived in California with the Twardowsky 2 rocket - the largest vehicle in SKA Rocketry’s history. It is a fully in-house developed hybrid rocket, measuring 4.6 metres in length and 200 mm in diameter, designed to carry a 1U CubeSat-class payload to an altitude of up to 9 kilometres. The system features an ABS/nitrous oxide hybrid propulsion system, active nitrogen pressurisation, modular avionics with telemetry, and a two-stage recovery system. Its in-house developed engine, Aurora, reached peak performance values during testing of 8.5 kN thrust and a total impulse of 41 kNs.
SKA Rocketry at International FAR-OUT Competition in California
During the final launch window, despite a successful fuelling procedure, the rocket did not lift off. Nevertheless, participating in the competition on the other side of the globe, thousands of kilometres from Poland, proved to be an extremely valuable experience, requiring the team to address numerous technical, organisational, and logistical challenges. SKA Rocketry members worked until the very last moments, solving emerging issues and preparing the system for launch under the demanding conditions of the Mojave Desert. The experience gained will be used in further development of the rocket and in preparations for future launch campaigns.
SKA Rocketry at International FAR-OUT Competition in California
Despite the unsuccessful launch attempt, the team was awarded a prestigious distinction.
The Best Technical Report Award is granted based on the evaluation of the technical documentation prepared by participating teams.
“In addition to a detailed description of the engineering solutions used in the Twardowsky 2 rocket and its ground support systems, the documentation included sections on mission analysis, flight simulations, test campaign reports, technical risk and operational hazard analysis, verification of competition requirements, procedures governing launch preparation activities, and manufacturing documentation of rocket components,” explains Aleksandra Skrocka from the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, representing the WUT Student Astronautics Association. “In total, it was over 300 pages filled with tables, diagrams, schematics, and detailed descriptions of both the rocket and ground systems. The judges recognised the high level of professionalism already during pre-competition reviews, repeatedly highlighting the quality of reporting and the clarity of the rocket’s presentation.”
SKA Rocketry at International FAR-OUT Competition in California
The next major milestone for SKA Rocketry will be participation in the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC) in Portugal. The team has qualified to compete in the hybrid propulsion category, with a target apogee of up to 9 kilometres. The competition will take place in the second half of October.