From March 23 to 27, 2026, the IUT of Metz hosted the first edition of EU🚀ROcket Lab, an educational program dedicated to the design and launch of experimental rockets. This European project brought together 28 students from two partner universities – the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain and the University of Luxembourg – as well as 17 students from the IUT of Metz, for a scientific and collaborative challenge involving engineering, creativity, and international cooperation.
Organized as part of an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), which involves collaboration between at least three institutions, the project involved three universities: 5 participants from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, 7 from the University of Luxembourg, and 17 from the University of Lorraine (IUT of Metz), including 8 from the Computer Science department and 9 from the Physical Measurements department. For some students, this project also served as a Learning and Evaluation Situation (SAÉ).
The educational program combined a remote work phase with a week of mobility in Metz. Prior to the in-person meeting, four preparatory video conferences were held. These allowed students to work in English, familiarize themselves with the technical challenges of the project, and structure their collaboration.
During this time, five international teams were formed, mixing nationalities and specialties to enhance complementarity of skills. The teams not only progressed on the design of the onboard system for measuring and recording flight data, but also engaged in cross-cutting activities to strengthen group cohesion and the intercultural dimension of the project.
Each team proposed a logo for the project, which was then voted on by first-year students to designate the official visual identity integrated into the program poster. The groups were also invited to build an identity by choosing three European personalities related to the space industry and justifying their choices. Additionally, a creative work was done to create a project anthem using artificial intelligence based on specific keywords (Europe, space, teamwork, partner countries). The winning song, chosen on the first morning in Metz, accompanied the entire week and served as the soundtrack for the final video.
All the work done, whether technical or cross-cutting, was to be orally presented in English during subsequent video conferences, contributing to the development of participants’ language skills. The week in Metz further extended this dynamic through complete immersion in English.
Guided by Romain Jager, Marie-Madeleine Hittinger, and Stéphane Robert (IUT of Metz | University of Lorraine), in collaboration with Félix Albertos Marco (University of Castilla-La Mancha) and Volker Müller and Martin Theobald (University of Luxembourg), the students worked on the architecture of an onboard system based on an ESP32 board, sensors, and LoRa long-range communication.
Throughout the week in Metz, the five teams dedicated their time to designing, assembling, and preparing to launch their rocket prototypes. Technical workshops at the Formlab of the IUT of Metz mobilized skills in embedded electronics, data acquisition, and project management. The students’ involvement was particularly remarkable, with many of them continuing their activities in the evening beyond the scheduled work sessions.
An original thread, the “Billie Jean Rhythm Challenge,” punctuated the week and provided participants with the opportunity to showcase other skills, especially in coordination, creativity, and teamwork.
The program also included an immersive day at the Euro Space Center in Belgium, a European center dedicated to the discovery of space sciences and technologies, enriching the scientific and cultural dimension of the project.
The highlight of the week was the rocket launch on Friday at an aeromodelling field in Rozérieulles. After several days of design, assembly, and testing, each team was able to realize their work by launching their prototype.
Beyond the technical skills developed, EU🚀ROcket Lab provided students with a concrete European experience based on cooperation, intercultural exchange, and pedagogical innovation. The project also fostered close collaboration between teachers, students, and departments, with the prospect of expanding involvement to other specialties in future editions.
The project will continue with a closing video conference on April 10, as well as the creation of a 180-second video by students to showcase this experience to European partners and the general public.
Supported by the Erasmus+ program and the International and European Relations Directorate (DRIE) of the University of Lorraine, EU🚀ROcket Lab fully demonstrates the commitment of the IUT of Metz and its partners to develop innovative educational initiatives at the European level, at the intersection of science, technology, and international cooperation.
