Gdańsk Tech Students' Rocket Among the Best in the World
Students of Gdańsk Tech took fourth place worldwide and second among teams from Poland during the international FAR-OUT 2026 rocket competition in the USA. Their rocket R7 Orzeł, developed as part of the SimBa rocket program led by members of the SimLE Science Club, successfully launched in the Mojave Desert in California and was fully recovered after the flight.
Students of Gdańsk Tech took fourth place worldwide and second among teams from Poland during the international FAR-OUT 2026 rocket competition in the USA. Their rocket R7 Orzeł, developed as part of the SimBa rocket program led by members of the SimLE Science Club, successfully launched in the Mojave Desert in California and was fully recovered after the flight.
The R7 Orzeł is a rocket over four meters tall, capable of reaching an altitude of 3 kilometers. The design was entirely created and built by students of Gdańsk Tech. It is equipped with a hybrid engine, proprietary avionics, and a modern ground station.
The FAR-OUT 2026 competition is organized by Friends of Amateur Rocketry. It is an international event for academic teams involved in rocket construction, during which participants test engines, avionics systems, and conduct flights under conditions approximating professional standards. Launches take place at a specially prepared range in the Mojave Desert in California.
Successful Launch and Full Recovery of the Rocket
The R7 Orzeł rocket launched on May 31 at 11:00 PM Polish time. This was the most important moment of many months of preparation, including design, construction, testing, and logistics for the trip to the United States.
– On May 31 at 11:00 PM Polish time, the R7 Orzeł rocket took off. This marks the culmination of months of hard work and confirms that the SimBa rocket program can reach for the stars – says Amelia Michalewska, Deputy Coordinator of the SimBa project.
She emphasizes that not only the launch of the rocket was particularly important, but also its full recovery after the flight.
– At dawn, we arrived at the Mojave Desert with one goal in mind: the launch of Orzeł. We were prepared and determined to achieve it. Everything went perfectly, and the team worked very well together. We managed to launch our rocket and recover it fully. We are very proud of our Orzełek – adds Amelia Michalewska.
International Success of Gdańsk Tech Students
The result achieved during FAR-OUT 2026 places Gdańsk Tech students among the world’s leading academic rocket engineers. This is an important success of the SimBa rocket program, conducted by members of the SimLE Science Club.
The work on the R7 Orzeł required combining expertise from many engineering fields. The students were responsible for, among other things, the rocket design, hybrid propulsion, proprietary avionics, ground station, and preparation of launch procedures. The result of their work was a design capable of competing with the best academic teams worldwide.
About the Project
Gdańsk Tech is implementing project no. N29 titled “R7 Rocket, development and construction of a hybrid rocket along with a mobile launch station within the SimLE Science Club at Gdańsk Tech and participation in the international FAR-OUT competition” with a value of PLN 166,524.82.
The project was co-financed by a grant under the non-competitive FERS project titled “Support for students in enhancing their competencies and skills,” implemented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
