European Rover Challenge – what it’s about?

The European Rover Challenge is an event during which teams from all over the world compete on a special Martian track (the so-called Mars Yard). For the first time in history, ERC teams will compete in two formulas: stationary (ON-SITE) and remote (REMOTE). The teams that will compete on the spot in Kielce will use the rover they have designed to face tasks modeled on the challenges robots face in real Martian missions. Competitors participating in the remote formula will face challenges using the Leo rover, created by a Polish start-up. Thanks to the ability to control the robot from anywhere in the world, the teams can even more precisely mimic the work of engineers of the world’s largest space agencies – ESA and NASA. This year, almost 40 teams qualified for the final stage of the competition.

The event will be available at the Kielce University of Technology campus (Poland, Kielce) on September 10–12, 2021. Admission to the event is free. Come and see Mars rovers from all over the world with your own eyes! Meet our exhibitors, take part in workshops and scientific experiments.

One of the greatest attractions of this year’s edition is the Mars Yard – a Martian track where rovers compete during the finals. The organizers decided that Kielce will host the world’s largest, almost two-meter high Martian volcano this year. The precise reconstruction of the geological history of the soil in the Elysium Planitia area makes the Kielce project the only installation of this type in the world. The main prize in the ON-SITE formula is a 2500 USD voucher. The sponsor of the award is Astronika. The main prize in the REMOTE formula is a 1250 USD voucher. The sponsor of the award is GMV.

CHECK THE LOCATION  |  MORE ABOUT THE ERC  |  LIST OF TEAMS TAKING PART IN THE #ERC2021

Inspiration Zone – Exhibitors and speakers

The second part of the event is the Inspiration Zone, with numerous lectures and workshops waiting for visitors. Each of the three days will have a theme. On Friday, September 10, experts will present the subject of Mars and plans for crewed missions to the Red Planet. The second day of the ERC will be devoted to the Moon and its business and economic potential, as well as the commercialization of the space sector. This year’s edition of the event will end with talks on space technologies on Earth and the successes of Polish and foreign companies in this field. The speakers will include experts from global organizations and national representatives of the space sector. The invitation to the event was accepted by (among others) Dr. Robert Zubrin – founder and president of Mars Society, prof. Chris Welch, president of the oldest space organization of the British Interplanetary Society, Cesar Urrutia – co-founder of SPACE AG, Mayank – founder and managing director of Celestial Space Technologies GmbH or Billy Almon, astrobiofuturist and former creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Inspiration Zone is also about exhibitors! At the Kielce University of Technology, there will be almost 40 tents, in which our exhibitors will present exciting space projects and conduct scientific experiments. The organizers are waiting for you every day (September 10–12, 2021, Friday to Sunday) from 10.00am to 5.00pm (CEST). Every year we are visited by viewers of almost all ages. Most of them are people interested in astronomy, new technologies and science, but some appeared at the ERC quite by accident and now accompany us at each new edition. Many visitors of the Inspiration Zone are families with children, so we make sure that there are also attractions for the youngest.

The audience visiting ERC 2021 will also have the opportunity to see the NASA photo exhibition “From the Moon to Mars”, which was prepared thanks to cooperation with the US Consulate General in Krakow. The opening of the exhibition will take place on Friday, September 10, 2021 at 14:00 with the participation of Mrs. Amy Monsarrat, US Consul in Krakow.

MEET THE EXHIBITORS  |  MEET THE SPEAKERS

Event program – what will be happening?

The complete program of the event is available on the home page (roverchallenge.eu), in the “#ERC2021 LIVE” tab and in the “INSPIRATION ZONE” tab. The interactive list allows you to sort the program by a specific day, display on-site events and the livestream program.

CHECK OUT THE EVENT PROGRAM

#ERC2021 – livestream

The European Rover Challenge 2021 will be broadcast in full on our website from 10–12 September 2021 from 10am to 5pm (CEST). The livestream will be available in Polish and English. During the broadcast, you will see the struggles of teams from all over the world on the Martian track in Kielce, listen to the speeches of invited guests and take part in workshops prepared by them. #ERC2021 studio will be located in the Main Hall at the Kielce University of Technology and will be available to visitors – if you want to see our guests live (those who perform stationary), you will have the opportunity!  Streaming from all three days of the European Rover Challenge will be available at roverchallenge.eu, the event page on Facebook, and the SpaceTalks channel on YouTube.

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM

#ERC2021 Workshops

On behalf of the Speakers and Partners of ERC 2021, we cordially invite you to the workshops. Part of the workshops will be held on-site in Kielce, and part online. Participation in the workshops is free of charge.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE WORKSHOPS

Accommodation

Visitors coming to the ERC 2021 from various parts of Poland or from abroad can book accommodation in our partner hotels: IBIS and DAL with the password: ERC. Both hotels are located within walking distance from the Kielce University of Technology Campus, where the #ERC2021 takes place. 

We cordially invite you to the ERC2021! 

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