UKZN’s affiliated AeroSpace Systems Research Group recently launched Phoenix-1B Mk II rocket, with a technology demonstration objective. The project was used to train students on vehicle design, test operations, and to inspire the younger generations. Launched at Denel Overberg at 16h00 on Sunday, the rocket was aimed at reaching 15km but eventually reached a height of 18km, making the record for the highest flown indigenous rocket on the continent in recent times. The project is funded by the South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). Earlier in February, in a chat with Kai Mitchell Broughton, Team lead and Mechanical Engineer at the Group, he said “We have been working on the Mk II since 2017, launched it in 2019 but it failed. We had a break thereafter and this is when we put together a team of post-grads and PhD students to help rebuild the rocket. We had about ten part-time engineers and students working on the sub-systems to put together the vehicle again, and we reused a few parts that were not damaged from the first launch. We have recently completed the testing and will be launching. This particular rocket was designed to go about 35 km high. We wanted to push the amateur sounding rocket record in Africa, which is about 10.3 km. But for now, we are pushing for a 20 km height as the primary objective.