'Sibol' rocket made by AdDU students launched at Spaceport America Cup

The rocketry team of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) made history as they launched the first Filipino-made rocket at the Spaceport America Cup 2024, the largest intercollegiate rocket engineering competition in the world.

It was a successful launch of "Sibol," as the 9.7-foot rocket was able to reach the required altitude of 10,000 feet before falling back to Earth, according to Kuya Kim on Thursday's "24 Oras."

More than 6,000 rocketeers representing 152 institutions the world over attended the Spaceport America Cup last month in New Mexico, United States, said AdDU rocketry team adviser Wilfredo Pardorla Jr. He added that the team aims to continue their work and to launch more rockets.

Franz Guevara, AdDU's rocketry team lead, also said that Sibol is proof of what Filipinos are capable of.

"It's a testament to what we can do, we are able to be on par with other countries," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Marc Caesar Talampas, director of the Philippine Space Agency's Technology Missions and Systems Bureau, said that it's important for the country to have its own rocketry program.

"Importante na magkaroon tayo ng sariling rocketry program sa Philippines. Makakatulong 'yan sa pagsulong ng agham at teknolohiya sa ating bansa," he said.

But how do rockets work? Kuya Kim shared that this can be explained by Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion, saying, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

"Ang rocket para kang nagpasabog ng isang bagay pero ginawa mo siya sa isang tube na kung saan may isang butas lang," Talampas also explained.

"Lahat nung pressure na namumuo dun sa tube na 'yun ay lumalabas dun sa butas na 'yun kaya ang tendency, aangat."

Kuya Kim added that the first known use of the rocket in history came from the ancient Chinese in 1232 A.D. as weapons against Mongol invaders, while the first rocket to reach space was the V-2 rocket made by the Germans.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' first-ever high-powered hybrid rocket is called the "Tala" rocket, which measures three meters and weighs 15 kilograms. It was developed by students and space technology researchers from St. Cecilia's College in Cebu and was successfully launched in Capas, Tarlac, in 2023.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News