Krakow, August 30, 2024. – An unusual installation has appeared in front of the main building of the AGH University of Krakow. 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, starting this Friday. This year’s anniversary edition of the ERC will be held in Krakow on September 6-8.

Monuments to miners and metallurgists, which have had their place on the map of Krakow since 1935, have taken on a new appearance. In front of the main building of the AGH University of Science and Technology, one of the figures, measuring about 5m, has been transformed into an astronaut. The helmet and distinctive spacesuit are a reference to the upcoming space robotics competition, the European Rover Challenge 2024, which will be held in Krakow for the first time. This year will be the 10th anniversary edition of this international event, in which 27 teams representing renowned universities from around the world will be competing.

Fot. Tomasz Zachmost

This year’s edition of the ERC is special for us, so together with the organizers of the event we decided to celebrate it additionally. Through an unusual appearance of the monuments known to Krakow residents, we want to draw attention to the September event, which every year attracts a growing group of prominent experts and space fans. 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,” says Anna Żmuda-Muszyńska, spokeswoman of the AGH University of Krakow.

A key place in the event’s schedule is taken by the international space robotics competition, in which teams of young engineers representing 12 countries compete. The competitive efforts of the participants are the culmination of several months of intensive work by the teams on the unique designs of the constructed rovers. This competition will see them stand on the so-called Marsyard, a Martian track specially designed for the occasion and 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 will be able to take part 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.