TEKNOFEST Vertical Landing Rocket Competition

TEKNOFEST Vertical Vertical Landing Rocket Competition is a technology contest organized to enhance the skills of young engineers in space technologies in line with Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative vision. First held in 2022, this competition is the first of its kind worldwide to focus on vertical landing rockets powered by Cold Gas Propulsion Systems.

General Information

The competition is held within the framework of TEKNOFEST, Türkiye’s official largest technology event. Held annually since 2018, TEKNOFEST aims to foster innovation in aviation, space and advanced technologies, increase youth interest in these fields, and connect young talent with future engineering solutions. The Vertical Landing Rocket Competition aligns with this mission by encouraging participants to design systems based on space and aviation technologies, thereby advancing their engineering and systems thinking capabilities.

Releasing the Rocket from a Crane – T3 Foundation

Technical Definition and Process

During the competition, teams secure their rockets using a Hover Hold System provided by the Competition Committee, such as a crane. Upon release, an automatic separation connector triggers the avionics system. The activated system enables the rocket to perform a controlled and balanced landing on the ground using a Cold Gas Propulsion System. It is expected that the rocket will achieve an autonomous and soft landing precisely on the designated target area. Participants must work on both the physical system design and the software control algorithms.

Eligibility Criteria

Participants may include undergraduate and graduate students from within and outside Türkiye, as well as graduates at these levels. Teams must consist of a minimum of four and a maximum of ten members.

Vertical Landing Rocket Competition – T3 Foundation

Systems Engineering Approach

Participants are expected not only to develop a product but also to manage their projects in accordance with systems engineering principles. In this context, teams define technical requirements for the system, perform detailed design at the subsystem and component levels, identify necessary work packages, coordinate across disciplines among structural, propulsion and avionics teams, and execute prototyping, integration and testing processes. Validation of the developed system is carried out, and the entire project is managed in compliance with project management principles.

This comprehensive approach enables participants to develop not only their theoretical knowledge but also their teamwork, problem solving, communication, organizational and leadership skills.

Vertical Landing Rocket Competition – T3 Foundation

Evaluation Process

The competition consists of three key reporting phases:

Preliminary Design Report (PDR): The system concept and design objectives are presented.

Critical Design Report (CDR): The final design and analyses are described in detail.

Flight Readiness Report (FRR): Integration of the rocket, pre-flight preparation procedures and checklists are shared. Templates and schedules for these reports are announced via TEKNOFEST’s official website.

Awards and Participation Certificate

All finalist teams eligible to participate in the competition receive a Participation Certificate. Teams that successfully complete the competition process earn the right to receive awards on the TEKNOFEST stage.

Award Ceremony – T3 Foundation

Alignment with the National Technology Initiative

The competition aims to encourage young individuals to specialize in Cold Gas Propulsion Vertical Landing Rocket Technologies in accordance with Türkiye’s Ten-Year Technology Progress Roadmap. This initiative seeks to contribute to the country’s space program objectives and to cultivate qualified engineers capable of participating in defense industry projects.

As emphasized by the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır at TEKNOFEST 2024, the competition is expected to develop the human capital necessary to achieve the goals set out in Türkiye’s National Space Program. BAYKAR Board Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar has also stated that these competitions can elevate young engineers to international standards by enhancing their technical competencies.

Significance of the Competition

The Vertical Landing Rocket Competition is not merely a technical engineering event; it also serves as a strategic platform reflecting Türkiye’s vision for space technologies. The competition provides a practical environment where young people can demonstrate their ideas, skills and competencies while contributing to national projects.

This event contributes not only to enhancing the technological competencies of youth but also to nurturing the human resources needed to achieve Türkiye’s goals of technological independence. Within the framework of TEKNOFEST, the competition plays a pivotal role in the development of the emerging “engineering generation.”