UPC Space Program

What UPC Space Program does

UPC Space Program is a non-profit student association founded in 2016 at the ESEIAAT university campus in Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. It was formed through the merger of three prior student groups — Terrassa Rocket Team, Neslab, and WeCopter — to consolidate aerospace engineering extracurricular activity under one umbrella. The program is entirely student-run ('For students, From students'), with no faculty or industry staff involvement in project execution, and operates as the largest engineering association at ESEIAAT with over 100 members as of 2025.

The association executes across five distinct aerospace missions: ARES (rocketry, including the Patufet, Troilos, Jano, Fènix, DUC, and Deimos series rockets), GRASS (autonomous space rovers such as GRover, GRover-To, GAIA, and GAIA II), HORUS (satellite development with the RiVO-1 CubeSat and PocketQube KIT targeting ESA's Fly Your Satellite! program), ATLAS (autonomous drones including ARGOS and GRASS-Hopper), and ZEPHYROS (zero-pressure high-altitude balloon technology). Core technology spans propulsion, avionics, structures, aerodynamics, software (including the CASIOPEA ground station control system), and autonomous navigation, all developed internally by students. The program competes annually in European-level events including the European Rover Challenge (ERC) in Poland, the Student Air Race, the Global Space Balloon Challenge, and the Europe2Space competition, and has secured TRIPOLI Level 1 and Level 2 amateur rocketry certifications.

UPC Space Program generates no commercial revenue; participation is free for student members and the association is funded entirely through sponsorships, in-kind donations, and institutional support. Disclosed sponsors include Masca Grup (Platinum tier), CADDXFPV, HydraSpace, UARX Space, and mentorship from Institut Escola del Treball de Barcelona. Strategic partners include the European Space Agency and UARX Space, which is leading the Europe2Space competition for PocketQube launch via ISAR Aerospace. The program does not sell products or services commercially, and outputs (rockets, satellites, rovers, drones, balloons) are developed for internal educational use and competition participation.

Name

UPC Space Program

Legal name

UPC Space Program

Website

https://upcprogram.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UPC Space Program is a non-profit student-run aerospace association at ESEIAAT in Terrassa, Spain, executing five missions — rocketry (ARES), autonomous rovers (GRASS), satellites (HORUS), drones (ATLAS), and high-altitude balloons (ZEPHYROS) — to provide hands-on aerospace engineering experience for over 100 student members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Engineering Education

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

Keywords

• Student aerospace engineering
• University rocketry teams
• CubeSat development
• Autonomous rover competition
• High-altitude balloon research

Headquarters

HQ city

Terrassa

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Donations: UPC Space Program is a non-profit student association. It operates primarily through financial and in-kind sponsorships from companies and institutions. Sponsors provide funding, equipment (e.g., CADDXFPV's Walksnail Digital HD system), and mentorship to support the program's aerospace projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UPC Space Program is a non-profit student association that provides hands-on aerospace engineering experience through five student-run missions: ARES (rocketry), GRASS (space robotics/rovers), HORUS (satellites/CubeSats/PocketQubes), ATLAS (autonomous drones), and ZEPHYROS (high-altitude balloons). It designs, builds, tests, and launches rockets, rovers, satellites, drones, and balloons while training students in avionics, structures, propulsion, software, and communications subsystems for participation in European university competitions such as the European Rover Challenge.

Product overview

UPC Space Program is a non-profit student association offering hands-on aerospace engineering experience through five distinct missions: ARES (rocketry with rockets like Patufet, Troilos, Jano, Fènix, DUC, Deimos series), GRASS (space robotics with rovers GAIA, GRover, and GRover-To competing in ERC), HORUS (CubeSat/satellite development including RiVO-1 and PocketQube KIT for environmental monitoring), ATLAS (drone development with ARGOS autonomous drone and SAR project), and ZEPHYROS (high-altitude balloon technology). The program also develops supporting software like CASIOPEA ground station control system. Each mission operates independently while contributing to the shared goal of preparing students for careers in aerospace through real-world engineering challenges and international competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ATLAS: Drone development mission focused on SAR project (Student Air Race 2025 in Munich) and Argos autonomous drone project using artificial intelligence.
• ARES
• GRASS
• HORUS
• ZEPHYROS

Products and services

• ATLAS Drone Mission ATLAS is the drone development mission dedicated to creating high-performance autonomous drones. It encompasses the SAR (Student Air Race) project for the 2025 Student Air Race in Munich and the ARGOS autonomous drone project applying AI for independent navigation. Intended for university students participating in international drone competitions.
• ARES Rocketry Mission ARES is the rocketry mission focused on designing, building, testing, and launching student-built rockets, including the Deimos, Ares I, Ares II, Patufet, Troilos, Jano, Fènix, and DUC projects. The mission aims to reach supersonic conditions, achieve TRIPOLI certifications, and compete in European university rocketry competitions. Intended for ARES student members and competition organizers.
• GRASS Space Robotics Mission GRASS (GRound Autonomous Student Station) is the space robotics mission developing autonomous rovers with terrain recognition, sample collection, robotic arms, traction systems, and obstacle avoidance. The mission competes annually in the European Rover Challenge (ERC) in Poland. Intended for GRASS student members and ERC competition participation.
• HORUS Satellite Mission HORUS is the satellite research and development mission focused on CubeSats and PocketQubes, with the primary project RiVO-1 (Riparian Vegetation Observer 1) for satellite-based environmental monitoring of riparian ecosystems. The mission aims to participate in ESA's Fly Your Satellite! program and the Europe2Space Challenge. Intended for HORUS student members and partner organizations such as HydraSpace, UARX Space, and ESA.
• ZEPHYROS High-Altitude Balloon Mission ZEPHYROS is the high-altitude balloon mission pursuing zero-pressure balloon technology with a two-way valve that allows the balloon to remain suspended at a given altitude in hydrostatic equilibrium for extended periods. The mission aims to participate in the Global Space Balloon Challenge. Intended for ZEPHYROS student members and balloon-challenge competition organizers.
• CASIOPEA Ground Station Software CASIOPEA is internally developed ground station software that executes all communications, data visualization (graphs, vehicle position and orientation, status log), and rocket launch control for the ARES mission. It ensures full operational control, safety, and modularity for rocket launches. Built by UPC Space Program team members for internal launch operations.
• RiVO-1 (Riparian Vegetation Observer 1) CubeSat RiVO-1 is a CubeSat mission focused on monitoring and assessing the health of riparian ecosystems using satellite imagery to identify drought-prone areas, detect dead vegetation, and predict flood risks. It targets participation in ESA's Fly Your Satellite! program. Developed by HORUS mission student members.
• PocketQube KIT The PocketQube KIT is an ultra-low-cost modular pico-satellite kit of 1, 2, or 3 units featuring deployable solar panels, prototyped through additive manufacturing with a dedicated onboard operating system. Designed to explore innovative polymers to reduce weight and production costs. Developed by the HORUS mission for the Europe2Space Challenge competition.
• GRASS-Hopper Autonomous Aerial Drone GRASS-Hopper is an autonomous aerial drone developed for the ERC 2025 aerial reconnaissance mission simulating the Martian environment. The drone takes off autonomously, locates landing zone, returns to ground, and detects objects on the ground using AI, multiple cameras, and sensors without GPS.
• ARGOS Autonomous Drone Project ARGOS is an autonomous drone project that uses artificial intelligence and multiple cameras/sensors to navigate independently, make real-time decisions, and adapt to different environmental conditions without GPS. Designed for drone competitions by the ATLAS mission.
• Patufet Rocket Patufet is a 2.30m student-built rocket (the largest built by ARES to date) with 2 launches and 1521m accumulated ascent. It features a large payload bay capable of delivering multiple satellites above 1000m and double mid-descent parachute deployment for recovery.
• Troilos Rocket Troilos is a 1.60m student-built rocket used for TRIPOLI Level 1 certification. The first rocket designed with double-deployment recovery and the first ARES rocket with an entirely fiberglass fuselage.
• Jano Rocket Jano is a 1.65m student-built rocket designed to strengthen foundations of rocket manufacturing. Equipped with a tender descender recovery device, a technology tested for the first time in this rocket and which worked flawlessly.
• Fènix Rocket Fènix is a 2.55m student-built rocket designed to deploy CanSats at a variable range of altitudes, with double-deployment parachute recovery. Marked the team's rebirth after losing its manufacturing facility to fire in adjacent buildings.
• DUC Rocket DUC is a 3.00m student-built rocket designed, built, and tested by ARES students, targeting a 3 km apogee for participation in European-level amateur rocket university competitions. Components include propulsion, structures, avionics, aerodynamics, and flight systems.
• GAIA Rover GAIA is an autonomous rover used at the European Rover Challenge 2024 (Poland), improving seven positions after a tight qualification round to achieve twentieth place among international university teams.
• GRover Rover GRover is a completely redesigned autonomous rover used by GRASS at the European Rover Challenge 2022 in Poland, where it secured ninth place, ranking among the top 16 teams from 92 competing teams and representing Spain at the on-site final.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 members by 2025, making UPC Space Program the largest engineering association at ESEIAAT
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CADDXFPVminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2025CADDXFPV is an official sponsor of the ATLAS drone team. They provide a full Walksnail Digital HD system, including the Walksnail GT2 — a system designed for long-range flight and high-quality video transmission — for use in upcoming international drone competitions.
• Institut Escola del Treball de BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2025Teachers from Institut Escola del Treball de Barcelona serve as mentors for ARES, providing valuable knowledge and understanding of aluminium parts manufacturing processes and helping accommodate designs to workshop tools and machines.
• GameDevminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2024GameDev is a student association based in Vilanova i la Geltrú that develops a graphics engine. The partnership benefits ARES by providing graphic visualizations of rocket trajectory simulations, while GameDev gains access to simulation data to demonstrate their engine's capabilities.
• STAR UC3M Rocketry TeamminorOthersSTAR UC3M is a university rocketry team based at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. The ARES team met with STAR UC3M during a launch attempt, exchanging words about their respective projects and fostering inter-university collaboration.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHORUS mission aims to participate in ESA's Fly Your Satellite! program. The RiVO-1 CubeSat mission targets participation in this ESA program for advancing capabilities in space-based environmental monitoring. HORUS also aims to compete in EuRoC alongside ARES.
• HydraSpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHydraSpace provides the PocketQube kit used by HORUS mission for the Europe2Space competition. HORUS designed and developed a PocketQube satellite based on this kit, with the goal of deploying and testing an electrodynamic tether propulsion and power generation system.
• UARX SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUARX Space is a space logistics company leading the Europe2Space competition. They were selected by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in December 2022 to launch PocketQubes on an ISAR Aerospace Spectrum rocket from Norway, including the HORUS mission's satellite. This represents the intended launch opportunity for HORUS's satellite.
• ESEIAAT Nanosatellite Research TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHORUS mission collaborates with the ESEIAAT nanosatellite research team on mini-projects related to CubeSat and PocketQube design, including structure modeling, attitude control, orbital simulations, and environmental impact studies.
• Masca Grup (Masca Vet)minorOthersPlatinum-tier sponsor of UPC Space Program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EPFL Rocket Team: Student rocketry team at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland). Comparable European university team building sounding rockets and competing in amateur rocketry events like Spaceport America Cup.
• ARES Stuttgart: Student-run rocket and space technology association at University of Stuttgart, Germany. Comparable European university organization focused on rocketry and space technology development with active competition participation.
• TU Wien Space Team: Student aerospace team at TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology) in Austria. Comparable European university space program participating in ESA initiatives and amateur rocketry competitions.
• STAR UC3M Rocketry Team: Spanish university rocketry team based at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Mentioned as a partner of UPC Space Program's ARES mission; both are student-run rocketry teams competing in Spanish and European amateur rocketry competitions.
• KTH Space Center: Student-run space center at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Comparable European university organization developing satellites (CubeSats) and participating in ESA student programs like Fly Your Satellite!.
• SpaceTeam Aachen: Student-run aerospace association at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Comparable multi-disciplinary student organization building rockets, satellites, and participating in European aerospace competitions.

Others

• HydraSpace: PocketQube platform provider that supplied the kit used by UPC's HORUS mission. Functions as a supplier/ecosystem partner enabling UPC's satellite development rather than a direct competing organization.
• UARX Space: Spanish space logistics company leading the Europe2Space competition that selected UPC's HORUS PocketQube for launch. Functions as an ecosystem partner rather than a direct peer, enabling UPC's satellite mission via launch services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UPCSpaceProgram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upc-space-program
• Instagraminstagram.com/upcspaceprogram
• TikToktiktok.com/@grass_upcspace

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UPC Space Program