EuRoC 2026 reveals its 25 selected teams and opens the door to rookies
The Portuguese Space Agency has selected the 25 teams that will compete in the 7th edition of the European Rocketry Challenge, taking place in Constância from 15 to 21 October. For the first time, five places were set aside for the strongest first-time entrants.
A record 61 eligible applications came in — and now the field is set. The selection process was more demanding than in previous editions, with each project assessed for technical maturity based on the documentation submitted by the teams.
Three of the eight Portuguese applicants made the cut: RED, from Instituto Superior Técnico, a fixture in the competition since 2021; North Space, the second Portuguese team to launch a rocket at EuRoC, comprising students from several Portuguese universities; and first-timers MAST, from the University of Minho.
The most significant change in this edition is the introduction of dedicated rookie places. Five of the 25 spots were reserved for newer teams, some created specifically to compete at EuRoC, ensuring they have a genuine shot at the launch rail rather than being edged out by far more experienced competitors. “The selection process factors in a team’s track record: projects completed, launches made, competitions entered,” says Inês d’Ávila, EuRoC project manager and head of Space Transportation and Safety programmes. “By setting aside places for rookie teams, we give them the chance to develop and test their technology alongside the best in Europe — and that, in the long run, makes the whole sector stronger.”
The five rookie teams are AnTARES (Belgium), MAST (Portugal), StarPi (Italy), UM Rocketry (Malta), and White Noise (Greece).
The spread of propulsion categories tells its own story. Ten teams are flying on liquid motors — six targeting 3,000 metres, four aiming for 9,000. Five are using hybrid propulsion, four at the lower altitude and one pushing for the top. The remaining five are in the solid propulsion category. “The applications we received this year were technically impressive across the board,” says Marta Gonçalves, head of Education and Science programmes at the Portuguese Space Agency. “More teams are building their own liquid and hybrid motors rather than relying on commercial solid ones. That shift reflects how far this ecosystem has come — and it made the selection genuinely difficult.” Among the selected teams are Austria’s Aerospace Team Graz and Italy’s Skyward Experimental Rocketry, champions of the last two editions, and Switzerland’s EPFL Rocket Team, winners of the second edition. Returning teams with strong EuRoC track records include ARIS, CTU, ICLR, and WARR, among others. Making their EuRoC debut, though not their rocketry debut, are Spain’s ARES and Coheteros and Ireland’s UCC RSES, all of whom arrive with successful launches already under their belts.
See the full list of selected teams here.
