Our Story
UQ Space is the No.1 student aerospace organisation in Australia, based at the University of Queensland in Brisbane
UQ Space was founded in 2018, when a small group of engineering students got together and started designing a rocket project. The team hoped to create an environment where university students could practically apply the skills they were taught by academics, and although the UQV and Racing groups already existed, there was no real application for those interested in the space industry.
As the first university team of its kind in Queensland, UQ Space continues to offer a unique opportunity for aspiring engineers and scientists to directly apply knowledge obtained during their studies and gain first-hand experience designing, building and launching rockets and associated technologies. By going beyond what is taught in a classroom setting, we bridge the gap between university and industry through outreach, research, practical experience and collaboration.
With over 100 ambitious students across all disciplines from aerospace and chemical engineering to science and business, we are a diverse team that strives for inclusivity, engagement and innovation.
With the assistance of our academic and industry advisors and sponsors, we create a challenging and innovative environment, preparing students for the growing aerospace industry in Australia.
UQ Space takes a proactive approach to safety. Visit our Safety page for more information
Credit: Jim Wilkerson
UQ Space in Numbers
113
MEMBERS
5
CURRENT PROJECTS
1
CURRENT RANKING IN AUS
11
COMPLETED PROJECTS
30 803
MAX ALTITUDE REACHED (FT)
55
SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS
385200+
SLACK MESSAGES SENT
7
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Competitions
Australian Universities Rocket Competition (AURC)
The Australian Universities Rocket Competition is Australia’s first national university rocketry competition, hosted by the Australian Youth Aerospace Association. Commencing in 2018, the AURC was designed with the aim to provide graduate engineers and scientists with the skills required for the growing aerospace industry in Australia, including practical skills.
The AURC encourages student teams to be as multidisciplinary as possible to reflect the complex, real-life space projects that require a mix of engineers and scientists from diverse backgrounds.
This event furthers the Australian Youth Aerospace Association’s legacy of promoting education, awareness and involvement in the aerospace industry to young Australians.
Achievements
UQ Space has competed in the AURC since 2019. Our achievements in this competition to date include:
1st Place Overall - Project Epimetheus (2024)
1st Place Overall - Project Hephaestus (2020)
1st Place Overall - Project Athena (2019)
Australian Rover Challenge (ARCh)
The Australian Rover Challenge is one of the largest robotics competitions in Australia, where teams from Australian and international universities compete in a simulated lunar environment with entirely student designed and built rovers. Commencing in 2021, the competition has been hosted by the University of Adelaide across their North Terrace and Roseworthy campuses.
The rovers compete in multiple challenges across four days of competition to complete complex maintenance, construction, resource sampling and autonomous tasks. UQ Space has entered with Project Theseus since 2022, with each iteration of the project returning better results each year.
Achievements
UQ Space has competed in ARCh since 2022. Our achievements in this competition to date include:
2nd Place Overall - Theseus IV (2025)
3rd Place Overall - Theseus III (2024)
International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) -Formally Spaceport America Cup (SPAC)
The Spaceport America Cup is designed around IREC – the International Rocket Engineering Competition – for student rocketry teams from all over the United States of America and around the world. With over 110 teams from colleges and universities in eleven countries, the competition continues to grow.
At the Spaceport America Cup, students from all over the world launched solid, liquid and hybrid rockets to target altitudes of 10,000 and 30,000 feet.
The competition was held in the United States of America, between the cities of Las Cruces, New Mexico and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
Achievements
UQ Space has entered Spaceport America Cup since 2022. Our achievements in this competition to date include:
2nd Place 10k COTS - Project Eos (2023)
3rd Place Payload - MARS flying on Project Artemis (2022)
Join our team —