The Teddington-based National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is partnering the UK Space Agency to offer an out-of-this-world chance to design a SPACE ROCKET.

Because of the pandemic the NPL has been forced to cancel its usual Water Rockets Challenge but now anyone, whether individuals, teams, families or schools can get involved - the sky's the limit, as it were!

The design challenge is just one of three being run by the NPL and the UK Space Agency between 16 June and 30 June. The others are a Launch and Land Challenge and a Rocket Quiz.

Here is the brief for any budding astronauts or rocket scientists waiting for blast-off in Teddington:

Space Rocket Design Challenge

Be part of the space revolution. What do you think the next rocket mission should be? It could fly to the moon or prepare to explore the outer galaxy or maybe take a closer look at Earth.

What would that rocket look like? It could be big and bold or small and nimble.

Maybe it has some unique features to ensure success? A satellite, a robot or an ingenious sensor?

Use your imagination to identify the issues and your engineering skills to solve them (or just have fun!).

Tell us what your mission will achieve and how your rocket design reflects this. Whatever path you choose, we're sure it will be out of this world.

A guide on how to enter

The Challenge is open to all UK school age children with two judging categories: Primary and Secondary

Create your entry in two parts. Firstly, a design of your rocket and its payload (if you have one) – this can be hand drawn, computer generated, or you can use any other method you choose.

Secondly, your flight plan and ideas on why and how your rocket can be used by teams of space scientists at NPL and the UK Space Agency

The closing date for entries to the Challenge is 5pm 30 June 2020 BST

All entries must be submitted by an adult via email to [email protected] and should include two images (a rocket design and flight plan as described above) in jpg or pdf formats.

Please only put your first name on entries (no surnames), your team name if you have one and mark entry 'Primary' or 'Secondary', for judging

Individuals or teams can enter as many times as they like

Judges at NPL and UK Space Agency will be looking for ambition of your design as well as style of your solution and suggested flight plan

From 06 July 2020, winners will be notified by email or social media direct messaging and a selection of entries posted on the NPL website

Winners will receive a 3D printed prototype (non-functional) of their design, and have an opportunity to

How The NPL is involved in space activity

NPL contributes to the UK space industry enabling the age of privately financed space missions.

NPL developed the science behind TRUTHS – a climate mission, led by the UK Space Agency, which will be delivered by the European Space Agency to enable in-flight calibration of Earth observation satellites and help deliver improved confidence in Earth Observation data gathered from space and the forecasts driven by this data

NPL have been pioneers in atomic clock technology since its advent in 1955.Today, signals from 31 atomic clocks onboard satellites enable GPS

NPL is helping space scientists understand the end-to-end performance of satellite instruments under operational conditions prior to launch through the development of novel instrumentation testing methods

SEE MORE OF THE SPACE ROCKET CHALLENGES