PAS Aveiro is a student organisation at the University of Aveiro, active in the fast-growing aerospace sector. Our mission is to build the student aerospace community through technical workshops, such as the “Make It Fly” rocket workshop organized by our mother organisation, NAVEE, and through participation in international competitions like the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC). We also organise events such as Aerospace Day, bringing in speakers from engineering and aviation to inspire our members.
University of Aveiro Expands Aerospace Infrastructure
In May, the University of Aveiro inaugurated its new Aerospace Engineering Lab at the Department of Physics, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), focused on sensors and devices to drive hands-on education and applied research. This was followed on July 3, 2026, by the opening of the Aerospace Electronics Lab, equipped with a Helmholtz cage generating magnetic fields of up to 450 µT in all three spatial directions to simulate in-orbit conditions, and an industrial-grade air bearing for satellite testing. Together, these labs support in-house validation of attitude determination and control (ADCS) algorithms, structural and dynamic analysis, and testbed optimization, reinforcing the University’s position as a leader in space, science, and engineering.
The CorkSat
The University of Aveiro is developing the CorkSat, a CubeSat that demonstrates the potential of cork as a space-grade material. Conceived by Nuno Borges de Carvalho (Director of DETI) and Martinho Oliveira (Director of ESAN), the project unites researchers from DETI, ESAN and the Institute of Telecommunications, combining sustainability, science, and space technology. Its primary goal is to evaluate how cork withstands vacuum, radiation, and extreme thermal cycling, using onboard sensors to track the material’s properties through the mission and re-entry valuable data given cork’s low density, thermal insulation, vibration damping, and moisture resistance. CorkSat also carries a payload to characterise the radio-frequency environment of the Starlink constellation, contributing to spectrum coexistence research.
On July 3, during the “Satellites at the University of Aveiro” event, CorkSat completed its first development milestone: a drone-borne test flight to several dozen metres in altitude, successfully transmitting data to a ground station. The event also marked the inauguration of the university’s new aerospace engineering laboratory. The technologies behind CorkSat have already been patented with support from UACOOPERA, the University’s office for intellectual property and technology transfer, underscoring the mission’s innovation potential and strengthening the University’s presence in the New Space sector.
AeroCup
Aveiro also hosted another edition of AeroCup, a national university-level UAV competition held at the São Jacinto Military Air Base. Teams from across Portugal took part, including the University of Aveiro’s Automec team, made up largely of aerospace engineering students, giving them a chance to apply their knowledge and reinforce Aveiro’s role in promoting engineering innovation.
We are also proud to announce new roles within our team, created to strengthen the organisation and support the growth of PAS Aveiro.
Leonor Gomes as President
Lucka Rosero as secretary
Duarte Cardoso as Treasurer
Beatriz Gomes as Local member
Inês Dionísio as Local member
Amine Martins as Local member