Aurora Rocket Team wins TEKNOFEST Rocket Competition

The Aurora Rocket Team, composed of students from Nilüfer Borsa İstanbul Science High School in Bursa, has secured first place in the TEKNOFEST Rocket Competition. Out of 1,629 participating teams, the group achieved a record-breaking score of 1,038 points, surpassing the competition's 1,000-point ceiling.

The rocket, named ‘Semrük’ after a legendary double-headed bird in Turkish mythology, reached an altitude of 3,350 meters during the launch at the Aksaray Hisar Shooting Range. Following its ascent, the rocket successfully separated and utilized parachutes for a safe landing. Using GPS data, the team located the rocket body and payload within 18 minutes despite challenging terrain.

The 16-member team was led by captains Samet Karabulut and Nisa Göktekin, under the guidance of advisor Aşir Çalışkan. The project was supported by an R&D department established by school principal Mustafa Ersoy.