T-Minus Space Daily: The European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC)

Date: October 11, 2025
Host: Maria Varmazes (N2K Networks)
Guest: Marta Goncalves, Science and Education Officer, Portuguese Space Agency

Episode Overview

In this Deep Space feature, host Maria Varmazes delves into the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC)—Europe's premier university-level rocketry competition held in Portugal. Through an in-depth interview with Marta Goncalves of the Portuguese Space Agency, listeners get insight into the genesis, growth, challenges, and spirit of EuRoC, as well as the impact it has on students, European aerospace, and Portugal's burgeoning participation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins and Growth of EuRoC

• Inception during COVID-19: EuRoC began in 2020, spurred by the cancellation of the US Spaceport America Cup and a request from a European student team (03:49).

• Rapid Launch: The first competition was organized in just 3-4 months (04:12).

• Initial & Current Scale: The competition grew from ~100 students in its first year to 700 in its current (sixth) edition, with rising professionalism and partnerships (04:39).

• Student Participation: Teams build rockets to compete, choosing technical complexity (solid, hybrid, or liquid propulsion), and may launch up to 3 km or 9 km altitude (05:25).

  “In the first edition, we had around 100 students, and right now we are looking at 700 students coming to Portugal.”
  — Marta Goncalves (04:39)

2. Record Interest and Expanding Opportunities

• Rising Applications: This year saw roughly 60 applications for 28 team slots, the largest field yet (07:20).

• Portuguese Teams' Growth: Notably, the number of Portuguese university teams has grown from none in Year 1 to a record four this year (07:58).

  “I think that this is one of our main goals ... we strive for Portuguese students to have these types of opportunities.”
  — Marta Goncalves (08:54)

• Collaborative Ecosystem: EuRoC exposes Portuguese and other European students to broader technical experiences and peer learning (09:09).

3. Impact on Careers and Industry

• Alumni Trajectory: Many alumni have gone on to work in prominent European space firms, sometimes returning to mentor current teams (12:24).

• Talent Pipeline: Companies actively scout for participants, seeing them as future employees with exceptional hands-on skill (13:02).

  “Companies also come to the competition and look for students that ... can develop these hard and soft skills from the experience they have there.”
  — Marta Goncalves (13:15)

4. European Space Sovereignty and Geopolitics

• Growing Relevance: Increased emphasis on European space sovereignty and innovation is reflected in participation and sponsorship (13:37).
• Portuguese Space Agency’s Role: The agency, itself the product of the modern “new space wave,” brings youthful energy and innovation (13:59).

5. Culture of Cooperation and Camaraderie

• Favorite Anecdote: Marta recalls a story of a small team rescued by a larger, more experienced team, emphasizing the competition’s cooperative spirit (14:45).

  “... I remember just a team that was much bigger. ... All of them together with the smaller team ... and in the end, this team was able to launch because other colleagues ... helped them solve their issues. ... You can really feel it in the competition. Like everyone helps each other.”
  — Marta Goncalves (15:05)

6. The Launch Site and Logistics

• Location: The competition takes place in Alto Alentejo, Portugal, specifically in the municipality of Constância (16:32).
• Why There? The site includes a large military shooting range, providing a safe and expansive area for launches. The army assists with operations and rocket recovery (16:57).

7. The Application and Competition Timeline

• Application Cycle: Events happen in mid-October. Applications open February-March, with about a month to apply (18:18).
• Selection and Reviews: Teams go through technical evaluations and must pass technical and safety reviews before launching (18:50).
• Preparations: A rigorous process ensures teams are ready, highlighting the challenge of rocketry (“Sometimes we hear three to one and we see nothing launching, but ... usually go okay.”) (19:55).

8. Trends and What’s Next

• Increased Complexity: Teams are now more ambitious, with more hybrid and liquid rockets versus early years dominated by solid-fuel designs (20:32).

  “We see actually the complexity of the rockets increasing every year ... which for us, it's also a challenge ... it's incredible how the teams are more ambitious in their projects.”
  — Marta Goncalves (20:34)

• Emotional Highs: The perseverance and joy of students at launch is a highlight for organizers (21:17).

  “You see them laugh, you see them cry of happiness, and it just makes it all worth it.”
  — Marta Goncalves (21:39)

9. Invitation to Join and Observe

• Open Invitation: EuRoC offers free tickets (with online registration due to military base protocols), inviting anyone interested to attend and witness the launches (21:57).

  “We do have tickets. These are free tickets. You just have to register because it's a military camp and for safety reasons, we do have limited capacity. ... I would like to invite everyone to ... visit us.”
  — Marta Goncalves (21:57)

Notable Quotes

• On EuRoC's Community Spirit:
  “We call it a competition. But we feel such a cooperative spirit ... it doesn't really feel like teams are competing.”
  — Marta Goncalves (14:47)

• On the Evolution of Projects:
  “Mostly we have hybrid and liquid rockets, which are much more complex but, you know, much more fun when it works.”
  — Marta Goncalves (20:42)

Important Timestamps

• 01:12 — Introduction: T-Minus Space’s love of student competitions
• 02:18 — Guest Introduction: Marta Goncalves of the Portuguese Space Agency
• 03:49 — EuRoC: Origin story during COVID, rapid first contest
• 04:39 — Growth: From 100 to 700 students, 25 → 28 teams
• 07:20 — Record applications this year
• 07:58 — Rise of Portuguese teams
• 12:24 — Alumni returning as professionals and mentors
• 14:45 — Anecdotes of team cooperation
• 16:32 — Description of the launch site and logistics
• 18:18 — Application timeline and judging process
• 20:32 — Trend toward more technically ambitious student projects
• 21:57 — Open invitation to attend EuRoC

Conclusion

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the European Rocketry Challenge as both a testing ground for technical skills and a crucible for international community and cooperation. Marta Goncalves’ stories convey the excitement, challenges, and sense of purpose that define EuRoC—an event shaping the future of Europe’s space sector, one ambitious student team at a time.

For more information or to attend future events, listeners are encouraged to visit the EuRoC website.