LOCAL MP Stephen Metcalfe, who represents South Basildon & East Thurrock, is encouraging any 11 to 18-year-olds interested in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) to enter the UK's largest youth rocket competition – the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge.

The Youth Rocketry Challenge involves the design, building and launch of a model rocket. The rocket must carry a payload of two raw eggs representing the 'astronauts'. The challenge is to get the rocket as close to 835 feet in altitude as possible within a goal timeframe of 41-44 seconds and the 'astronauts' must remain intact throughout the launch and landing.

Teams across the UK compete regionally to qualify for the national finals with the winners representing the UK in a fly-off against international teams at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow.

Registered teams from Basildon and Thurrock can compete against other students in the region for a place in the national finals in May 2022 to be crowned national champions.

The national champions will then win an all-expenses paid trip to Farnborough, to represent the UK in a fly off against international teams from the USA, Japan, and France at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2022.

Mr Metcalfe said: "This is a great opportunity to promote STEM subjects at school and build a future generation of rocket scientists!

"I raised in the House last week the UK's space industry and the opportunities it brings, in all its guises, to drive British science and technology innovation.

"The opportunities that the Space industry brings will create well-paid and rewarding jobs and boost our economy and this starts with getting young people involved in STEM subjects and the Youth Rocketry Challenge is an excellent way of sparking interest from young people.

"I am calling on all schools in Basildon and Thurrock who have the capacity to take part to apply, further information can be found here."