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Saudi Arabia’s CST Launches Space Challenge Camp

The camp is part of CST’s role in enabling national human capabilities in the space field
The camp is part of CST’s role in enabling national human capabilities in the space field
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Saudi Arabia’s CST Launches Space Challenge Camp

The camp is part of CST’s role in enabling national human capabilities in the space field
The camp is part of CST’s role in enabling national human capabilities in the space field

The Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) launched the "Space Challenge Camp” in the field of space science and engineering, which targets undergraduate students and fresh graduates.

The camp is part of CST’s role in enabling national human capabilities in the space field, with the aim of developing participants' knowledge and skills, introducing them to future opportunities, enhancing the capabilities of national competencies, and inspiring future generations to pursue scientific careers specializing in space sciences.

CST stated that the camp, which will span two weeks in October, consists of two phases: a virtual phase through the website, and an in-person phase at the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk) in Riyadh. The camp's activities will revolve around providing participants with an introduction to spaceflight, space program management, spacecraft systems, atmospheric re-entry approach, and landing techniques.

CST emphasized that the camp will contribute to the development of participants' skills and knowledge by training them in space program management, understanding the fundamentals of human spaceflight design, design skills, problem-solving, teamwork skills, and team management. The camp will also involve participants' competitions, where they will design innovative solutions to challenges faced by astronauts in human spaceflight missions.

CST clarified that joining the Space Challenge Camp is conditional on the applicant being a Saudi national who must currently be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in a scientific or engineering major. For recent graduates, it is required to hold a bachelor's degree in a scientific or engineering field. Additionally, proficiency in spoken and written English is necessary, along with meeting the program's other requirements.

CST highlighted that the Space Challenge Camp will offer lectures based on experiential learning delivered by specialists and experts in the space field, and participants will receive certificates of attendance from the CST commission.

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Private European Aerospace Startup Completes 1st Test Flight of Orbital Launch Vehicle

In this photo taken from video provided by Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media, Isar Aerospace test rocket "Spectrum" explodes felling back down after the launch at Andoya Spaceport in Nordmela, on Andøya island, Norway, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media via AP)
In this photo taken from video provided by Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media, Isar Aerospace test rocket "Spectrum" explodes felling back down after the launch at Andoya Spaceport in Nordmela, on Andøya island, Norway, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media via AP)
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Private European Aerospace Startup Completes 1st Test Flight of Orbital Launch Vehicle

In this photo taken from video provided by Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media, Isar Aerospace test rocket "Spectrum" explodes felling back down after the launch at Andoya Spaceport in Nordmela, on Andøya island, Norway, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media via AP)
In this photo taken from video provided by Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media, Isar Aerospace test rocket "Spectrum" explodes felling back down after the launch at Andoya Spaceport in Nordmela, on Andøya island, Norway, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media via AP)

A rocket by a private European aerospace company launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed into the sea 30 seconds later.
Despite the short test flight, Isar Aerospace said that it successfully completed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle by launching its Spectrum rocket from the island of Andøya in northern Norway.
The 28-meter-long (92-foot-long) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle specifically designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit. The rocket lifted off from the pad at 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) Sunday and flew for about a half-minute before the flight was terminated, The Associated Press quoted Isar as saying.
“This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions,” Isar said in a statement. “After the flight was terminated at T+30 seconds, the launch vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner.”
Video from the launch shows the rocket taking off from the pad, flying into the air and then coming back down to crash into the sea in a fiery explosion.
The launch was subject to various factors, including weather and safety, and Sunday's liftoff followed a week of poor conditions, including a scrubbed launch on March 24 because of unfavorable winds, and on Saturday for weather restrictions.
“Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success,” Daniel Metzler, Isar’s chief executive and co-founder, said in the statement. “We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System.”
The company had largely ruled out the possibility of the rocket reaching orbit on its first complete flight, saying that it would consider a 30-second flight a success. Isar Aerospace aims to collect as much data and experience as possible on the first integrated test of all the systems on its in-house-developed launch vehicle.
Isar Aerospace is separate from the European Space Agency, or ESA, which is funded by its 23 member states.
“Success to get off the pad, and lots of data already obtained. I am sure @isaraerospace will learn a lot," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher posted on X. "Rocket launch is hard. Never give up, move forward with even more energy!”