Water Rocket Competition

summer pre college rocket launch

The Department of Physics Presents the 19th Annual Goddard Cup 2026

Our 18th Annual 2025 event was a fantastic blast!  Stay tuned for our next year's event in May/June 2026 and join us to strive for the cup!  

Every year we commemorate the Anniversary of Robert Goddard's graduation from WPI and his invention of the "liquid" fuel rocket with this fantastic event!

We are inviting all schools in Worcester County, Middle Schools and High Schools to send teams of students for a competitive afternoon of fun. Each team (we recommend 2 - 4 persons per team works best) must include a member of their school’s faculty to serve as team leader.  

WHY WATER ROCKETS?

Dr. Goddard launched the world’s first liquid fuel rocket on March 16, 1926. To honor his achievement, we thought it fitting that the participants use “liquid fuel” as well. Of course, whereas Dr. Goddard used a combustible fuel, for safety purposes we choose non-combustible water. Novices! Do not let that disturb your orbit. Track our links to the World Wide Web and marvel at the stratospheric feats of pop-bottles filled with pressurized water.

Our 2026 Event TBD Spring 2026! 

The event consists of an approximate 2 hour schedule below:

Preview

Water Rocket

  • REGISTRATION 
  • COMPETITION 
  • AND OUR PIZZA PARTY AND AWARDS 
     

CHECK BACK IN LATE FEB/EARLY MARCH 2026 AND REGISTER YOUR TEAM FOR THIS AWESOME EVENT! 
 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR TEAM JOINING US IN STRIVING FOR THE CUP!