To infinity and beyond: the ANU students with a plan to reach the stars

As a child, did you ever dream of being an astronaut? Perhaps you wished to traverse galaxies, experience life on Mars, meet an alien, or maybe see a real-life rocket ship. Introducing ANU Rocketry – the students that never lost their out-of-this-world ambition.  

ANU Rocketry is a student association at the Australian National University working to advance aerospace engineering. With a goal to launch a self-built rocket into space by 2028, the association is focused on developing the technologies and methods to achieve this feat. This includes manufacturing its own in-house liquid fuel and developing alternative internal mounting and alignment systems for a rocket skeleton. 

“Because ANU Rocketry is a volunteer organisation, hours can vary, and timelines are constantly being updated. But, in a generous estimate, 2028 is what we're looking at,” says Ryan Jarman, Payload team lead for ANU Rocketry and second year Engineering and Biotech student at ANU.  

“I was always that kid, since I was five, that said I’m going to go to space. The dream has evolved, but it is why I came to Canberra,” says Hannah Schmidt, Aerostructures team lead for ANU Rocketry. Hannah is a second year Engineering and Sciences student who chose to study at ANU for the University’s astrophysics major.  

Hannah and Ryan will be among the ANU Rocketry members presenting their team’s accomplishments at the upcoming ANU Rocketry Showcase on Wednesday 9 October. This showcase will display remarkable achievements from the society’s technical teams, across aerostructures, avionics, dynamics and control, payload, propulsion and recovery. 

The showcase provides an opportunity to exhibit the innovative work to current and future sponsors and ANU researchers. “The wealth of knowledge at the ANU is staggering. We have so many incredibly talented people here and to not use that would be such a waste,” says Ryan.  

ANU Rocketry also hopes the showcase will draw in fellow students with an interest in joining the student team. “It’s pretty hard to understand what we do without seeing it due to the magnitude of the things we do. Seeing us present parts, working projects, diagrams and data makes the big picture make sense,” says Hannah. 

ANU Rocketry is open to all students and does not require an engineering degree or any prior knowledge to join. It contains six technical teams and five non-technical teams, providing opportunities for students from all scholarly backgrounds to participate.  

“ANU Rocketry makes it possible as an undergraduate student to get hands on experience beyond the scope of your courses. The work we do has so much opportunity and potential to make an impact, even if you think you don’t know enough to do it,” says Hannah.  

“Beyond all the crazy stuff we do and exciting research we develop, one of the key things that you learn at your time at ANU Rocketry is how to work as a team. It prepares you so well for how big the world is and how it feels to do engineering, even as an undergraduate. It’s the most incredible way to strengthen your qualifications as an undergrad, especially in such a competitive market environment,” says Ryan.  

Discover the innovative work of ANU Rocketry at the ANU Rocketry Showcase on Wednesday 9 October from 6-9pm.