Around 690 students from 13 countries are meeting in Constância for the 7th edition of the European Rocketry Challenge, which has the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and has launches planned up to an altitude of nine kilometres.
American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson attended the opening of the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), in an edition that reinforces Europe’s commitment to training aerospace engineers and developing new launch technologies.
This year’s edition is marked by the ESAs increased involvement, as it has become a strategic partner of EuRoC, through a bilateral agreement with the Portuguese Space Agency.
In addition to the technical expertise it already provided in previous editions, ESA will now also provide significant financial support for the initiative.
The partnership is part of the European agency’s new university initiative, which aims to bring higher education institutions closer to the space sector and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills between academia and industry.
In a statement, Marco Ferrazzani, ESA Director of Resources and Services, stressed the importance of preparing students for the real challenges of the space sector, through projects that allow them to turn academic knowledge into practical experience.
Rockets could reach an altitude of nine kilometres
EuRoC brings together 21 university teams competing, as well as two teams that will follow the event without taking part in the competition.
Launches began yesterday, at the Santa Margarida Military Camp, and rockets have been billled as ‘expected to reach altitudes of 3.000 or 9.000 metres, depending on each team’s objectives’.
The competition covers three types of propulsion: solid, hybrid and liquid. Of the 21 competing teams, eight use liquid propulsion, five opt for hybrid and eight for solid.
Sixteen teams will use engines developed by the students themselves, while the five first-time teams will use commercial engines.
In addition to the rockets’ performance during flight, projects are recognised in areas such as vehicle design, teamwork, payload and technical documentation. The main prize goes to the team with the best overall performance.
Portugal once again stands out in applications
Portugal is represented by two university teams: RED, from Instituto Superior Técnico, which has participated since 2021, and MAST, from the University of Minho, which is making its debut in the competition.
The Portuguese Space Agency received eight national applications this year, the highest number ever. For the second consecutive year, Portugal was the country with the most applications.
Although 25 teams were initially selected, four ultimately had to withdraw from the competition. Among them is Portugal’s North Space, which was unable to complete all the mandatory tests within the deadline to ensure launch safety. Spain’s ARES faced similar difficulties, while Ireland’s UCC RSES withdrew due to engine problems. Greece’s ASAT was also left out.
North Space and ARES will nevertheless be present in Constância to follow the event.
Speaking to Lusa, Marta Gonçalves, head of Education and Science projects at the Portuguese Space Agency, highlighted the progress of national university projects linked to aerospace engineering.
When the agency created EuRoC, in 2020, there was no Portuguese team ready to compete. Since then, the initiative has contributed to the growth of university communities dedicated to rocket development.
From six teams to an international competition
Created in 2020 by the Portuguese Space Agency, EuRoC has grown since its first edition, which featured six teams and fewer than 100 participants, to a record high of 64 applications from 26 countries, recorded this year.
The initiative seeks to bring students closer to the real challenges of aerospace engineering, from the design and construction of rockets to technical testing and compliance with safety requirements.
The 2026 edition ends on Wednesday, with the closing ceremony and prize-giving.
Source material: SIC / LUSA