The ASPiRE – Aerospace Research Engineering student team of the University of Western Macedonia “outdid itself” constructing, for the first time, an N-class rocket and representing Greece as the only national team to qualify for the international European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), held in Constância, Portugal.
The team successfully completed its first launch, achieving 14th place among 28 European teams in the overall ranking and winning 1st place in the special Payload Award, a distinction recognizing the innovation, reliability and societal impact of the scientific payload.
The competition evaluated five main criteria: Flight Performance, Vehicle Design, Technical Report, Team Award and Payload, with the latter assessed as an independent scoring category.
ASPiRE’s payload included a biomedical experiment studying retinal detachment under high-acceleration conditions, highlighting the societal and scientific impact of the mission. The research aimed to explore the accessibility of future space travel for individuals with ophthalmic conditions, contributing to safer and more inclusive space exploration.
For the experiment, a replica human eye was fabricated using PDMS material, simulating the mechanical properties of operated tissue to study the effects of extreme acceleration.
Alexandra Choumpaeva, Project Manager of the team, stated:
“Project Solaris was our most ambitious endeavor to date. Despite the challenges, we managed to represent our country at an international competition and achieve a significant distinction. This award recognizes our team’s creativity and innovation and motivates us to return even stronger.”
The ASPiRE team combined skills from multiple scientific fields, mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, biomedical science and communication, demonstrating that innovation is born from collaboration and interdisciplinarity.
The University of Western Macedonia actively supports its scientific student teams and congratulates ASPiRE on its achievements, which practically showcase the connection between education, research, innovation and student creativity.
For the students of ASPiRE, Solaris was not just a rocket. It was a journey of knowledge, experience and teamwork, that taught them always to aim higher.
🎥 Watch the video “ASPiRE | Solaris – The Story” on the official University of Western Macedonia YouTube channel and discover the story of Solaris: a tale of dedication, teamwork and innovation.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2UliQbhoOn1hnxiRvjaJSg
University of Western Macedonia
