A Kiwi scientist has broken a world record by sending a rocket higher than any other of its kind.
The rocket, powered by sugar, managed to reach a height of over 12 kilometres above Waikato.
It was made in Auckland by local plasterer and rocket scientist Phil Vukovich, who has lost track of how much time he has spent on the project.
"I don't count the hours," he says. "It's a passion, and you just keep at it."
His rocket, which travels at over twice the speed of sound, is fuelled by the sugar found in chewing gum and toothpaste.
"It's a hobby, and this is how we get high," he laughs. "I guess you could say I'm on a sugar high at the moment!"
Mr Vukovich has hand-made almost the entire rocket from spare odds and sods, getting a hand from like-minded people when he gets stuck.
"He's come to this point, like many Kiwis, on his own know-how," says mate John Stick.
The rocketeer has high hopes, and says his ultimate goal is to put a rocket into space.
But he admits that if he wants to get there, someone is going to have to put money behind New Zealand's budding space industry.
3 News
source: newshub archive
