International Astronaut Training for 100 Students in Space Technology Across Various Nations in 2025
Spain's Space Camp Ignites Space and Entrepreneurial Interest Among Youth
The ninth edition of the CASSINI Space Camp Extremadura, an aerospace training program for young people aged 14 to 18, concluded recently with the participation of 100 students from Spain, the United States, France, and Australia. This year, the program took place in Valencia between June 23 and July 25, and saw a significant increase in the participation of girls, with 30% of the students being female.
The Space Camp program follows the 'learning by doing' methodology, combining technical training, adventure, space simulation, and scientific dissemination in an immersive environment. The camp is held at El Anillo, a futuristic center with dark skies ideal for astronomy, where participants engage in learning space technology, satellite data, astronomy, and real-world problem solving, all while enjoying sports and teamwork.
A new addition to this year's program was the 'Save the Egg' hackathon, a design and engineering challenge where young participants designed a system to launch an egg from a height of over two meters without it breaking upon impact. This hackathon was co-developed by Space Camp and PLD Space, an international space transportation company.
PDL Space served as the main Technology Partner for this initiative, having designed and mentored four educational workshops plus factory tours aimed at bringing space exploration closer to children. The partnership integrates direct involvement from industry experts, enhancing the camp's technical and practical learning environment.
During the program, students had the opportunity to learn about PLD Space's history and observe the development and manufacturing process of the MIURA 5, their small satellite launch vehicle. They also took part in a virtual reality adventure called 'Mars Mission', where they had to complete a virtual reality mission on Mars with LINCE, PLD Space's lunar exploration and scientific instrumentation mission.
The 'Build and Launch a Rocket' workshop was held again this year, where children designed and launched their own water rocket inspired by MIURA 5. Mentoring for the 'Save the Egg' hackathon was provided by university students from Plutón UPV. The final of the 'Save the Egg' hackathon was held at PLD Space's headquarters.
The jury for the 'Save the Egg' hackathon final consisted of members of PLD Space's engineering team. Raúl Torres, CEO and co-founder of PLD Space, believes it is fundamental to bring space engineering closer to young people and provide them with real references within the sector.
In addition to the 'Save the Egg' hackathon, the Ambassador Program was introduced for the first time in Space Camp, with top-level figures in the aerospace sector and science communicators as participants. This program aims to inspire the next generation of space professionals and encourage young people to dream big about space exploration and innovation.
The Space Camp program in Spain provides a unique educational experience fostering space interest among teens, with strong industry collaboration through PLD Space to enrich program content and inspire future space professionals.
- The Space Camp program, by combining sports, tech training, adventure, and space simulation, not only sparks interest in space exploration among youth but also promotes lifelong learning in science, education, and self-development.
- The introduction of the 'Save the Egg' hackathon, a design challenge co-developed by Space Camp and PLD Space, encourages learning in engineering, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship among young participants.
- The Ambassador Program, a new addition to Space Camp, brings together top figures in the aerospace sector and science communicators to inspire the next generation in space and entrepreneurial pursuits, bridging the gap between education and the space industry.
