The University of Waterloo Rocketry Team set a new amateur world record for the highest altitude reached by a liquid-fueled rocket this month [1, 2, 3].
The achievement demonstrates the increasing capability of student-led engineering teams to develop complex propulsion systems that rival professional standards. By surpassing previous benchmarks, the team proves that liquid bi-propellant technology is accessible to amateur researchers.
The team, consisting of approximately 100 student members, launched the Polaris rocket in Timmins, Ontario [1, 2]. The launch took place during the 2026 Launch Canada Challenge [1, 2].
According to data from the flight, the Polaris rocket reached an altitude of 63,497 feet, which is approximately 19.35 kilometres [1]. This flight surpassed the previous amateur world record of 56,590 feet [2].
The project focused on demonstrating the capabilities of a student-built liquid bi-propellant system [1, 2]. Unlike solid-fuel rockets, liquid-fueled rockets allow for more precise control over the engine's performance, a challenge the team aimed to overcome.
The students worked to make an impossible challenge possible by designing the vehicle to withstand the extreme pressures and temperatures of high-altitude flight [1]. The successful recovery and data collection from the Timmins site confirm the new record [1, 2, 3].
“The Polaris rocket reached an altitude of 63,497 feet.”
This record marks a significant leap in amateur aerospace engineering, as liquid-fueled rockets are substantially more complex to design and stabilize than the solid-fuel alternatives typically used in student competitions. The ability of a university team to exceed the previous record by nearly 7,000 feet suggests a maturation of open-source aerospace data and additive manufacturing tools available to students.
