EuRoC receives record number of applications – and Portugal is the most represented country
For the first time in the history of the competition, Portugal is the country with the most applicant teams. The Portuguese Space Agency's competition returns to Constância next autumn, from October 9th to 15th.
In the year that marks its 6th edition, the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC) continues to grow. With the application period for the competition now closed, the statistics confirm that the geographical scope of the teams is increasing, with new countries and a notable growth in the number of rocketry projects at a European level, but above all at a national level.
EuRoC 2025 received 56 applications, contrasting with the 45 applications received last year. And for the first time in the competition, Portugal is the country with the highest number of applicant teams — seven in total, coming from all over the country.
“These figures show a great growth in the competition and rocket science in Portugal. We’re thrilled to see the number of Portuguese teams applying, who have been inspired by EuRoC since its first edition,” points out Inês d’Ávila, EuRoC’s Project Manager.
Of the seven Portuguese teams in the running for EuRoC, three are making their debut in the competition’s selection process: the Aerospace Student Team for Rocketry Operations (ASTRO), from the NOVA School of Science and Technology; the Minho Aerospace Student Team (MAST), from the University of Minho; and the University of Aveiro Rocketry Team (UART), from the University of Aveiro.
Also in the running are the Porto Space Team (Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto) and the Fenix Rocket Team, from the University of Beira Interior (UBI), which were selected in previous editions but did not launch. Rounding off the list are the only Portuguese teams that have already launched their rockets at EuRoC: the experienced Rocketry Experiment Division (RED) from the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) at the University of Lisbon, and North Space, which brings together students from the faculties of Engineering and Sciences at the University of Porto, the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto and IST.
Inês d’Ávila, Space Safety and Transportation Programme Manager at the Portuguese Space Agency, highlights that this evidence “proves that EuRoC is an asset for the country”. “It’s clear that we are creating the conditions for the Portuguese space ecosystem to grow based on highly qualified national labour. In recent years, there has been a reinforcement in the offer of space programmes at the higher education level. Furthermore, the Agency has also come to show Portuguese students that they can develop skills in the area without having to go abroad. It’s highly encouraging and a good sign that the future of space in Portugal is in good hands.”
The top three of countries with the most representation is completed by Spain and Germany, with six teams each. All in all, of the 56 teams, 34 had already applied to the EuRoC in previous editions, and 22 are trying to reach the Santa Margarida Military Camp for the first time in 2025. “This is also a sign of the impact that the Portuguese Space Agency has on the European ecosystem: EuRoC is inspiring the creation of teams all over Europe, as the number of teams applying is growing every year,” the Project Manager adds. Among the newcomers is one team from Malta, a country that has never been represented in any of the EuRoC selection phases.
In technical terms, 29 of the candidate rockets are solid propellants. The rest are divided between liquid (14) and hybrid (13) propulsion. In addition, 35 teams are presenting projects whose propulsion system they developed themselves – at EuRoC it is possible to use commercial engines (COTS engines) or engines that were student-researched and developed (SRAD), “which also indicates technical and scientific improvement from the teams, who are presenting more complex and innovative rockets”. In terms of altitude, 42 are aiming for 3,000 metres at their peak, while 14 intend to fly up to 9,000 metres.
EuRoC 2025 will take place between October 9th and 15th in the town of Constância, between the Municipal Sports Pavilion (where the teams will assemble their rockets in the paddock) and the Santa Margarida Military Camp, from where the rockets will be launched.
