APPRENTICES at a leading Darwen business have been working to manufacture major parts for a new research space rocket.

In just four weeks, WEC Group training academy apprentices developed parts for the 8.3m tall Skybolt 2 rocket which is set to launch later this year.

Expected to reach 4000ft in 17 seconds, the carbon fibre rocket will test an array of electronic instruments such as engines that could be used in future flights.

The apprentices have fabricated the rocket propulsion system and fitted the rocket's fin brackets which were cut at the company's in-house waterjet division.

The rocket has been created by Starchaser Industries, which launched the largest rocket ever to have flown from the UK in 2001.

Steve Bennett, Starchaser CEO and founder, said he was impressed with how the WEC apprentices had applied themselves to the job.

He said: “The WEC apprentices have done a sterling job in building the assembly that holds Skybolt’s propulsion system in place, a vital piece of engineering without which this ground breaking rocket would not fly.

“These guys are putting us another step closer to our goal of putting Britain back into space.”

The project has involved apprentices as a way of inspiring young people to pursue science technology, engineering and maths as part of their education.

In order to manufacture the propulsion system, the WEC apprentices used advanced welding and fabrication processes including aluminium Tungsten Inert Gas welding and Metal Inert Gas welding as well as Computer Numerical Control machining.

These processes will allow expansion and contraction when the rocket experiences different temperatures throughout the flight.

The rocket will be flown just once on launch day and the duration of the flight will be under four minutes.

Skybolt will also test fly a number of experiments from universities in Chester, Manchester, Leicester, Sheffield Hallam and other UK educational institutes.

Cllr John Roberts, town and borough councillor for Darwen, said: "I think it's great that apprentices in the town are becoming involved with this as I think it's important the UK continues to have a strong role in the space industry.

"Getting young people involved will help with this a great deal."