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An unusual installation has appeared in front of the main building of AGH University. One of the figures, part of the statues of miners and metallurgists well known to locals, has been dressed as an astronaut. This is a prelude to the international Mars rover competition, the European Rover Challenge, a prestigious event in the space robotics sector which starts this Friday. This year’s, jubilee edition of the ERC will take place on the AGH University campus on 6–8 September.
On the map of Krakow since 1935, the monuments to miners and metallurgists have taken on a new form. One of the figures in front of the main building, about five metres high, has been dressed as an astronaut. The helmet and distinctive spacesuit are a reference to the upcoming Martian rover competition, the European Rover Challenge 2024, which will be held in Krakow for the very first time. This year marks the 10th anniversary edition of this international event, with 27 teams representing renowned universities from around the world competing against each other.
“This year’s edition of the ERC is special to us, so together with the organisers of the event organisers, we have decided to celebrate it a bit more. Through the unusual appearance of the monuments known to Krakow residents, we want to draw attention to the September event, which attracts a growing group of prominent experts and space fans every year. We hope that during the upcoming edition of the competition we will be joined not only by regular visitors, but also by those who have not heard of the ERC before,” claims Anna Żmuda-Muszyńska, spokeswoman of the AGH University of Krakow.
A key place on the event’s schedule is taken by the international space robotics competition, with competitors representing 12 countries. The competitive efforts of the young engineers are the culmination of several months of intensive work on the unique designs of the rovers. This competition will see them stand on the so-called Mars yard, a Martian track specially designed for the occasion, reflecting the topography of the Red Planet. The tasks the participants will face faithfully replicate real missions of space agencies such as NASA or ESA, and thus the challenges of rovers designed to operate on Mars and the Moon.
In addition, a STEM Exhibit will be prepared for visitors, where they can participate in workshops and scientific experiments. In parallel with the competition, the ERC will hold a popular science conference, where visitors will be able to ask questions of prominent specialists. Among them will be Dr. Swati Mohan, a key expert at NASA JPL and chief engineer of the Mars 2020 mission.
The organisers of the 10th European Rover Challenge are the European Space Foundation and the AGH University. The ERC has received the honorary patronage of the Minister of Education, the European Space Agency (ESA), the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the Mayor of Krakow, the Marshal of the Małopolska Region, and the Polish Space Industry Association (SPACE PL). The project is financed from national funds granted by the Minister of Education and Science within a programme aimed at raising social responsibility of science. The partner supporting the construction of the Mars yard is the “Zalas” Porphyry Mine. The task of assembling the astronaut's costume on the miner's statue was entrusted to the members of SAKWA, a Krakow mountaineering club.
Photograph: Tomasz Zachmost
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The European Rover Challenge (ERC) is an annual international competition of Martial rovers with participants from all over the world. Like the University Rover Challenge, the ERC is part of the Rover Challenge Series, a league of the most prestigious rover competitions in the world. The ERC is the largest such event in Europe directed to the world of science and business, the sector of new technologies, and the general public. The challenge has been organised in Poland since 2014.
For more information, visit the ERC website.
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