Looking Back at Czech Space Week: BUT Brought Space Closer to Applicants and the Public

Brno University of Technology (BUT) was once again an important part and co-organiser of Czech Space Week, the largest festival of space activities in the Czech Republic. The university initiated and co-hosted the Czech Space Pavilion, which opened to visitors for the very first time at the Brno Exhibition Centre as part of the Gaudeamus fair, and also hosted the inspiring Space4Women talk show.

Space Begins in Brno

The Czech Space Pavilion, created on the initiative of BUT in cooperation with the Czech Path to Space project, the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, and the Gaudeamus fair, offered an interactive exhibition dedicated to Czech astronautics and space technologies on 22 and 23 October. The universe came to life in all its diversity on the G2 pavilion floor. Visitors of all ages could try out the latest technologies, peek behind the scenes of Czech space projects, meet experts and students in fields of the future, and discover the opportunities offered by studying astronautics.

The universe came to life in all its diversity on the floor of Pavilion G2. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

In the pavilion, students of Aviation and Space Technologies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and of Space Applications at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication welcomed prospective students. The exhibition also showcased projects of the Czech Academy of Sciences, student teams including representatives of YSpace and Brno Mars Rover, companies in the aerospace sector, as well as stories of Zero-G mission cadets and ambassadors of the Czech Path to Space. A thematic panel exhibition demonstrated that the journey to space leads through BUT, and the popular planets created by BUT alumni from Visualove added the perfect cosmic atmosphere.

Brno Mars Rover showcased its autonomous space rover. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

“Brno has long been establishing itself as one of the centres of the space industry in our country. I am pleased that our technical university is at the heart of this activity. The Czech Space Pavilion showed that it is right here where paths begin that may one day lead to the stars,” said BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček.

Women Aiming for the Stars

The festival also included the traditional Space4Women talk show, held on 24 October in the atrium of the BUT Rectorate. The discussion introduced four women working in the space sector – Soňa Ehlerová, an astronomer at the Czech Academy of Sciences and Czech delegate to the European Southern Observatory; Natálie Gogolová, a systems engineer at Spacemanic who contributed to the Veronika, GRBBeta, CroCube and LasarSat satellites; Julie Vašků Dobrovolná, the university coordinator for space research at Masaryk University; and Terezie Němcová, a populariser of space law and export control specialist in the aerospace sector with experience from ESA and Airbus.

The traditional Space4Women talk show took place on 24 October in the atrium of the BUT Rectorate. | Author: Jakub Rozboud

The debate was moderated by BUT Rector Ladislav Janíček, a long-term supporter of women in technical fields. The aim was to inspire female students and young women not to hesitate to enter a sector often perceived as male-dominated. The discussion highlighted that the diversity of approaches and experiences is precisely what pushes the boundaries of space research. At the end of the talk show, a formal announcement was made regarding the establishment of the Czech chapter of Women in Aerospace Europe – a non-profit organisation promoting opportunities for women at all levels of the European aerospace sector.

BUT Connects Education, Science and Space

The festival programme also included a press conference on 21 October, where Czech experiments destined for the International Space Station were presented as part of the historic mission of Aleš Svoboda. Among them was the ICARUS ARMOR Next Gen project coordinated by BUT. The project is developing a digital twin of an astronaut that, based on physiological and psychological data, can predict cognitive performance under long-term stress in space, thus helping increase both safety and performance of ISS crews.

The festival also included a press conference where Czech experiments destined for the International Space Station were presented as part of Aleš Svoboda’s historic mission. | Author: Karel Horák

BUT was not only a co-organiser of Czech Space Week, but also an active participant in the professional programme. Rector Ladislav Janíček took part in the Academia/Industry panel at the Space2Business conference. This session focused on cooperation between academia and industry in space projects – from scientific collaboration and instrument development to industrial involvement in international missions. The aim was to present projects that connect academic research teams with industrial partners and to show concrete examples of Czech companies and institutions participating in scientific space missions.

The first edition of the ESA BIC Liftoff Challenge organised by the ESA BIC Czech Republic business incubator also concluded during the Space2Business conference. First place was awarded to the student team YSpace from BUT, which made it to the finals alongside four other teams. “Participating in the ESA BIC Liftoff Challenge was an exceptionally valuable experience for us. Thanks to the competition, we realised the business potential of the technologies we develop as a team at BUT and gained a clearer idea of how to turn them into a real enterprise. In addition, we established important contacts, benefited from mentoring support, and the prize money will allow us to test our antenna and prepare it for verification as part of the student mission KOSTKA. The entire experience also showed us how important it is to understand all parts of a project – not only the technical side but also the marketing and business aspects,” said Eliška Ivanovová from YSpace. “A major benefit for us was the mentoring in presentation skills and the ability to convincingly communicate the idea. Thanks to this, we were able to present our project in the final with confidence and professionalism. The victory is not only strong motivation for the future but also confirmation that even a student team can impress experts and has real potential to move its project forward,” added Ondřej Voleník.

The student team **YSpace** won the first edition of the **ESA BIC Liftoff** competition, which aimed to support the development of innovative projects with a space focus. | Author: Karel Horák

By participating in Czech Space Week, BUT reaffirmed its role as a key partner in the field of space technologies and education. This year’s events offered the public, students and prospective applicants the opportunity to meet experts, discover the latest technologies and explore the world of Czech astronautics. Space is one of the university’s strategic areas, and BUT aims to continue developing activities that connect science and technology with people of all generations and support their curiosity for discovery – on Earth and in space.