Constância, Portugal – The Aerospace Team Graz from Graz University of Technology has once again claimed the European championship title at the sixth edition of the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), securing back-to-back victories after their 2023 triumph.

Competing with their rocket ISPIDA—named after a subspecies of kingfisher—the Austrian student team scored 938 out of a possible 1,000 points, finishing more than 220 points ahead of the University of Stuttgart. The Polytechnic University of Milan placed third. In total, 24 teams from across Europe took part in the competition.

The contest evaluated teams across four categories: technical documentation (200 points), rocket design (250), team performance (200), and flight performance (350). Aerospace Team Graz entered the H9 class, which features hybrid-powered rockets designed to reach nine kilometers in altitude. Powered by a nitrous oxide oxidizer and HTPB solid fuel, ISPIDA performed flawlessly, soaring to 9,366 meters and earning the Flight Award in its class.

A Year in the Making

“Preparing for the European Rocketry Challenge takes almost a year,” said team president Manuel Maurer. “We not only develop the rocket’s concept and design, but also work with sponsors on manufacturing and system testing. In Portugal, we launched with complete confidence in our system. Our clear victory against such strong competition shows the expertise and dedication of the entire team.”

The Aerospace Team Graz brings together around 90 students from 15 disciplines, ranging from mechanical and electrical engineering to physics, computer science, and media production. Beyond technical expertise, the team also emphasizes management, marketing, public relations, and sponsorship—an interdisciplinary approach that has once again propelled them to the top of Europe’s rocketry stage.