29-05-2026
NOVA FCT is applying to the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC) 2026, the largest European student rocket launch competition, which this year has recorded a record number of applications and sees Portugal as the most represented country.
This application is led by Project ASTRO, a team integrated within NuAr (the Aerospace Group of NOVA University Lisbon), which will bring months of dedicated work, perseverance and continuous learning leading up to the competition.
In a contest that brings together the best university teams in Europe, NOVA FCT students aim to once again demonstrate the quality of the Faculty’s technical and scientific training, applying in practice the knowledge acquired in the fields of engineering, physics and science, with the support of lecturers and external entities who share the same commitment.
Speaking about their participation, the team highlighted what drives them: “Building a rocket from scratch, without any prior experience, is a huge challenge, but that is precisely what motivates us. We want to prove to ourselves that we are capable of applying our knowledge to real-world problems and overcoming every obstacle along the way. This daily work, made up of design, testing and a great deal of persistence, benefits from the essential support of lecturers and external partners who believe in this project as much as we do. We believe ASTRO can become a platform for the development of the aerospace industry within academia and inspire more initiatives in our Faculty. This is only the beginning, and having the opportunity to represent NOVA and Portugal in such a prestigious competition as EuRoC, where learning and international cooperation are key pillars, is our dream.”
The potential participation of Project ASTRO in EuRoC 2026 reflects the spirit of innovation and dynamism of the NOVA FCT academic community, which continues to establish itself beyond borders and contribute to Portugal’s prominence on the European science and technology map.
