Applications for the 5th edition of the EuRoC are now open
The rockets will return to Ponte de Sor for the fifth time with EuRoC already established itself as the European rocketry event.
The European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), a testament to the expertise and commitment of the Portuguese Space Agency, returns next autumn to the city that hosted its first three editions. This year, the European University rocketry competition will again be split between Ponte de Sor and Constância between 9 and 15 October.
The paddock (where the teams set up their projects) will again be at the Ponte de Sor Aerodrome, while the rocket launch will occur at the Santa Margarida Military Camp in Constância.
The president of the Portuguese Space Agency, Ricardo Conde, emphasises the event’s importance “for promoting Portugal on the international space scene. “The Agency wants to publicise space access activities throughout Portugal, and that’s why we’ve been returning to Ponte de Sor, where there is an important aerospace industry hub. We want to consolidate Portugal’s position as a modern, attractive, and enterprising country that responds to the aspirations of its young people,” he adds.
With registration open until May 12th, EuRoC offers a unique opportunity for European university students to solidify their interest in rocketry and gain hands-on experience designing and manufacturing rockets. Last year, the Portuguese Space Agency received a record number of applications, with 48 teams hoping to launch their projects in the skies over Ribatejo. Nineteen teams competed, and for the first time in EuRoC’s history, two Portuguese teams launched their rockets.
“It’s safe to say that EuRoC is the main meeting point for these young people. It’s a niche competition, but at the same time, it attracts hundreds of students who travel countless kilometres to try to launch their rocket,” comments the Portuguese Space Agency’s Education and Science programme manager, Marta Gonçalves. The competition’s project manager also points out that “it will be natural to receive a high number of applications, very much in line with the growth seen since the first edition”.
The 2024 edition of EuRoC will also continue to count on the collaboration of the Portuguese Army, “an essential partner in operationalising the launch of the rockets, as well as security at the Santa Margarida Military Camp”, points out Inês d’Ávila, programme manager for Security and Space Transport at the Portuguese Space Agency. “This is a complex competition, and the teams face many challenges yearly. Safety is a priority factor in the organisation of EuRoC. That’s why the Agency always has the support of the Army, the Fire Brigade, Civil Protection, and the National Republican Guard,” he explains. “Just as a rocket is only launched thanks to the contribution of several people, so EuRoC is a joint effort,” she concludes.
