The City of Mati will be the venue of the launching of the country’s first civilian high-powered hybrid rocket that was invented by a team of high school students from a school in Cebu.

The hybrid rocket named “Tala” is set to be launched at the City of Mati airport on Wednesday, March 11. 

Tala is the result of year-long research under the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council on Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) Young Innovators Program. 

The project is also in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) with regards to airspace regulations and safety.

The team behind the rocket invention is composed of former junior high school students of St. Cecilia’s College-Cebu who are now in their senior high and college. 

Made from what the team described as “advanced composite materials,” the TALA hybrid rocket measures 10 ft and weighs 15 kg. It has built-in sensors that can track the launch vehicle’s flight dynamics, an on-board GPS, a dual parachute deployment system, and ample space to carry a CanSat at approximately 4 to 5 km. 

Can satellites (CanSats) are educational satellites equipped with various sensors that can gather data about the environment. Based on their tests and simulations, the rocket can reach the speed of sound. 

Expected to attend the Tala rocket launch are DOST Sec. Fortunato dela Peña, DOST 11 regional director Dr. Anthony Sales, PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico Paringit.(CIO MATI)