Kuwaiti youth defy limits as ambition-3 rocket test showcases homegrown innovation

The saying “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” found new meaning on Saturday morning when the Kuwaiti youth team launched the “Ambition-3” rocket.

Although the rocket did not achieve its intended goals, the attempt marked a significant milestone in developing engineering expertise among national youth and positioning Kuwait among countries with a presence in space science.

The team overcame numerous challenges to build a technologically advanced rocket designed to reach space, raise the Kuwaiti flag, and demonstrate the capabilities of young innovators. Nasser Ashkanani, founder of the Kuwaiti Space Rocket Project (KSR) and a mechanical engineer, told Al-Rai that the launch aimed to set a new world record.

“What we attempted today is both a challenge and an achievement,” he said. “It will be remembered as proof that nothing is impossible for Kuwaiti youth.”

The test launch took place at the Al-Adira shooting range in the presence of team members, including aerospace engineer Suleiman Al-Fahd and mechanical engineer Hassan Al-Mutawa, with support from Jaber Ashkanani and officers from the Kuwaiti and American armies.

Ashkanani described the launch as an ambitious experiment involving a rocket fueled with a sugar-based mixture and 16 kilograms of solid propellant. The rocket, measuring 3.2 meters in length and producing a thrust of 12,000 newtons, was theoretically capable of reaching 15 kilometers. Equipped with GPS systems, it was designed to record altitude, speed, acceleration, and other flight data.

Despite the team’s extensive preparations, a sudden rise in engine pressure caused the rocket to explode shortly after launch. “The malfunction is a lesson rather than a setback,” Ashkanani said. “We will address the issues and relaunch the rocket in 2026.”

Engineer Suleiman Al-Fahd highlighted that the rocket was built over six months through the personal efforts of the team members. He expressed gratitude to the Kuwaiti Army’s Air Defense sector for providing the launch site and supporting the project. “Our passion drives us to reach the heights of the sky,” he said.

Mechanical engineer Hassan Al-Mutawa added that the project stems from a childhood dream shared by Al-Fahd and Ashkanani to design a rocket capable of launching from Kuwait into space — potentially the first such initiative in the Middle East. Work on the idea began in 2018, and by 2021 the team had transformed it into a tangible prototype. “This innovation requires continued support,”

Al-Mutawa said. “We are committed to investing our time, effort, and resources to achieve this ambition.”
The Ambition-3 launch, though not successful, has highlighted the determination and creativity of Kuwait’s young engineers and set the stage for future breakthroughs in the nation’s pursuit of space exploration.