TEKNOFEST 2026 hosts Vertical Landing Rocket Competition finals

The Vertical Landing Rocket Competition, part of TEKNOFEST 2026, is entering its final stage at the TÜBİTAK SAGE campus from September 14 to 18. Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the T3 Foundation, the competition challenges young engineers to design rockets capable of controlled, autonomous landings.

This competition is notable for being the first in the world to utilize a Cold Gas Propulsion System. Finalist teams must integrate their rockets with an Aerial Suspension System that releases the rocket from an altitude of 8 to 10 meters. Once released, the rocket's avionics, autonomous control, and propulsion systems must manage a soft landing, aiming for an approach speed between 0 and 0.2 m/s to maintain structural integrity.

Out of 331 competing teams and 796 participants, 15 finalist teams consisting of 149 members have been selected. The participants, aged 18 to 29, represent 15 different provinces in Turkey.