On Kāhu’s Wings: How a group of Kiwis won the world’s biggest rocketry competition

Members: Caleb Melchers (left), Grayson Spittle, Reuben Van Dorp, Pieter Leigh, Henry Eden-Mann, Avalon Beker, James Graham, Alicia Smith, Jacob Saunders. Additionally pictured in article are Peter Lee, Jack Davies.

Months of planning, consecutive late nights and lots (and lots) of sanding – all for a single shot. A group of University of Canterbury students built Kāhu, a sounding rocket, for the international Spaceport America cup. Up against 158 teams from across the globe, they won their category and placed third overall.

A story of sunhats, sleep deprivation, and how one little country at the bottom of the world surprised everyone – including themselves.

Before building a new rocket, students launch the old one – The Flying Kiwi. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

Avalon Beker (hat) and Alicia Smith screw some screws. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

Loading the rocket for launch. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

And Kāhu begins. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

Caleb Melchers with Kāhu’s nosecone, made of fiberglass. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

Sanding galore – did you know inhaling fibreglass particles can cause cancer? Always wear a mask… PHOTO/Peter Lee.

The fins in progress. PHOTO/Caleb Melchers.

The UC Aerospace Club’s president Peter Lee (nervously scratching head) rehearses his speech for Kāhu’s unveiling. PHOTO/Ella Fraser Cornish.

Like bees to honey, engineers swarm the newly unveiled rocket. PHOTO/Ella Fraser Cornish.

The Kāhu goes viral: Reuben Van Dorp (left), Beker and Henry Eden-Mann during an interview with TVNZ. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

TVNZ’s Digby Werthmuller interviews the crew. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

Smith and Eden-Mann carry Kāhu to a launch tower – will it fly? PHOTO/Alex Heffer.

It flies! PHOTO/Alex Heffer.

Engineering students in their natural environment – sleeping in a lab (they kept putting off the paperwork and had a few hours till deadline). PHOTO/Henry Eden-Mann.

Handle with care! PHOTO/Henry Eden-Mann.

Wild Kiwis spotted in New Mexico. PHOTO/Henry Eden-Mann.

Eden-Mann preps the rocket. PHOTO/Caleb Melchers.

No hat, no fly – Kāhu practices sun safety. Lee says the crowd cheered when the team finally got the hat on the rocket. PHOTO/Caleb Melchers.

Kāhu makes its award-winning flight. PHOTO/Jim Wilkerson.

A cactus and some champions – Smith (left), Jack Davies, Van Dorp and Beker. PHOTO/Caleb Melchers.

The trophy comes home (only 4 months late). Beker doesn’t seem to mind. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.

Smith, team lead for Kāhu, finally gets her prize. PHOTO/Anisha Satya

And the cycle repeats – James Graham (left) and Grayson Spittle will be part of building the 2024 Spaceport rocket. PHOTO/Anisha Satya.