Waterloo Rocketry, a student design team from the University of Waterloo, launched Aurora, a liquid bi-propellant rocket, at this year’s Launch Canada competition and placed second in the Advanced Launch category.
Aurora reached an altitude of 38,000 feet, approximately commercial cruising altitude, making it the second highest amateur liquid rocket in the world. This record-breaking feat is double that of Borealis — the first Canadian-built liquid bipropellant rocket, successfully launched by the team at last year’s competition.
Waterloo Rocketry team with Aurora, a liquid bipropellant rocket, at Launch Canada 2025.
Both rockets were designed and built entirely by the student team and have achieved historic milestones that have helped advance Canada’s aerospace capabilities.
“We pride ourselves on working with intent and working as a team; there’s math behind everything we do” Luca Scavone, third-year systems design engineering student and Waterloo Rocketry team co-lead, said. “Our success is built on 14 years of accumulated knowledge and expertise shared with each other and passed on to new members.”
The team is about 150 members strong in total, which works out to about 50 active members each term. It operates out of Waterloo Engineering’s Sedra Student Design Centre and attracts students from all over campus — everyone is welcome, from first years to master’s students and from any Faculty.
One last tweak before lift off!
“We get amazing support from faculty members, sponsors and alumni,” Scavone adds. "Many of the team’s alumni now work at leading aerospace companies. They’re always ready and willing to help us troubleshoot any issues which, given their industry experience, is enormously valuable. One local alum was particularly helpful this year — we were pulling an all-nighter, and they dropped off Timbits and coffee to keep us going!”
Aurora made a clean ascent to much cheering. But unfortunately, the recovery system malfunctioned, and the rocket is likely now at the bottom of a lake in Timmins, Ontario, unable to be retrieved. Nonetheless, the rocket’s impressive technical systems earned the team its second-place ranking. Scavone and the team are immensely proud of their achievement and are excited to get going on the next rocket for Launch Canada 2026 where they will aim even higher.
Getting Aurora into position to take to skies.