Internationally renowned rocket scientists from Wakayama and Akita Universities in Japan teamed up with candy company UHA Mikakuto to build a rocket propelled by candy as its fuel.
The project – intended to help get children interested in science – took two years until the rocket was launch ready. Scientist Yutaka Wada said some of the problems the team faced were the candies burning or melting away, not producing enough gas or not igniting at all.
The rocket’s propulsion is created when the candies are melted by a liquid oxidant, producing gas as they burn.
In early March, the team successfully launched the hybrid candy rocket twice. The rocket reached an altitude of 248 metres.
“We were relieved that the rocket was launched wonderfully,” Wada said in a statement.
“This project proved that candies can be used as high energy fuel. If humans went to outer space and had to find energy from limited resources, candies that they brought for survival food could be used as emergency fuel when they ultimately have to escape.”
The rocket is around two metres tall and weighs 8 kilograms, and requires only 20 pieces of Puccho soft candies to fuel its launch.
Some children who witnessed the rocket launch said they were inspired yet surprised that the candies could substitute as fuel.
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