WEC Group’s engineering apprentices have put their new fabrication and machining skills to the test in order to manufacture major parts for a research space rocket.
Within just four weeks, WEC Group Training Academy apprentices fabricated a rocket propulsion system and fitted the rocket’s fin brackets which were cut at the company’s in-house waterjet division.
The 8.3m Skybolt 2 rocket, created by Starchaser Industries, is set to launch later this year as a way of engaging young people and inspiring them to pursue science technology, engineering and mathematics as part of their education.
Expected to reach 4000 feet in just 17 seconds, the carbon fibre rocket will contain and test an array of electronic instruments which could potentially be used in future flights, and will test fly a number of experiments from the University of Chester, Manchester, Leicester, Sheffield Hallam and other UK educational institutes.
The rocket boosters are now being fitted in Cheshire before coming back to WEC in two weeks’ time when the apprentices will manufacture the launch pad to prepare for lift off. This is the first time WEC has built a rocket, but the company has assisted with the manufacture of launch pads and parts before.
In order to manufacture the rocket propulsion system, the apprentices used aluminium TIG and MIG welding as well as CNC machining.