Secondary students, college learners and apprentices from across South Cumbria took part in the Rotary BAE Systems Technology Tournament 2018

A SPACE capsule launcher mission challenged young people from across South Cumbria during a technology contest.

Secondary students, college learners and apprentices all got involved in the Rotary BAE Technology Tournament today.

The teams of four were required to design, build and test a launcher. The scenario was that the launcher would fire a space capsule containing metrological instruments into the stratosphere.The foundation teams had to see their capsules reach a level of at least three meters. The intermediate and advanced teams also had to include parachutes in their designs.

Tyeisha Stamp, 14, of Year Nine, at Walney School said: "We are really pleased with the result. It was difficult, but we got better and better by working as a team."

Paige Edwards, 14, of Furness Academy, said her team had enjoyed the challenge. The Year 10 pupil said: "It was very challenging. You have to start the task from scratch, designing, building and testing. It has been very good for problem solving and team work."

The foundationsection winners were Dowdales School, Dalton and the runners up were Walney School. The victors in the intermediate section were Chetwynde School, Barrow, and the runners up were John Ruskin School, Coniston. In the advanced section the winners were Furness College, Barrow and the runners up were BAE Systems, Barrow.

The organisers from The Rotary Club of Barrow-in-Furness thanked everyone who made the day a success.

Ted Fenton, a past president The Rotary Club of Barrow-in-Furness, told the students: "You have done brilliantly today and you are a credit to yourselves and your schools. Your response to the challenge, the teamwork and your innovation indicate that you have had a successful and hopefully enjoyable time."