The UVigo Aerotech Solaris team, composed of students from various degree programs at the University of Vigo, primarily from the Ourense campus, has made history by winning the first Spanish university rocketry competition. Their model, the Viradinha MkII, secured first place in the L1 event, organized by Surt and SpainRocketry in Alcolea de Cinca (Huesca).
The project, involving 36 students from degrees such as Aeronautical and Space Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Industrial Engineering, has been underway since the 2024/2025 academic year. Team members expressed their pride in the achievement, highlighting the collective work that led to success.
The L1 Surtam competition brought together eight teams and around 80 participants with the aim of fostering collaboration and learning. The Viradinha MkII rocket, designed and built by the students, measures 1.23 meters in length, features telemetry-equipped avionics, an estimated apogee of 400-500 meters, a mass of approximately 1.6 kg, and reaches a maximum speed of 470 km/h. In addition to the launch, teams presented technical projects and worked on safety and design aspects.
During the competition, the rocket achieved an apogee of 426.6 meters, exceeding simulations. The launch took place on Saturday, November 7th, at 1:47 PM, with a peak acceleration of 12.5 g. The team also had to overcome challenges, such as adapting rail guides and replacing an igniter, emphasizing the camaraderie of other participating teams, like GCULE, who provided spare parts.
The UVigo team also earned the official Tripoli L1 certification and the Go For Launch award, which includes a visit to PLD Space. The long-term goal is to compete in EuRoC27 in 2027. The Solaris project is organized into subsystems: dynamics and control, avionics, aero-structures, and propulsion, with support from entities such as the University of Vigo, Coasa, Marine Instruments, Galician Innovation Agency of the Xunta de Galicia, atlanTTic, Aeromedia, and Catec.
