University of Waterloo rocket team breaks amateur world record

The University of Waterloo Rocketry Team has set a new amateur world record with the successful launch of its liquid bi-propellant rocket, Polaris. During the 2026 Launch Canada Challenge held in Timmins, Ontario, the 17-foot-long rocket reached an altitude of 63,497 feet, surpassing the previous record of 56,590 feet by nearly 7,000 feet.

Polaris utilizes a liquid bi-propellant system, which involves separate tanks for fuel and oxidizer. This design is noted for being significantly more complex to engineer than traditional solid or hybrid rocket engines. The team, which consists of approximately 100 students from various academic faculties, successfully recovered the rocket, allowing for a full analysis of sensor data.

This achievement follows the team's 2024 milestone of launching the first Canadian liquid bi-propellant rocket, Borealis. The success comes as Canada seeks to develop sovereign space launch capabilities.