The 2Space team from the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest successfully launched the Project YODA supersonic rocket in the prestigious International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), held in the desert in Midland, Texas, USA. The young Romanians, finalists of the 2024 edition of the ‘100 Youngsters for Romania's Development’ campaign organised by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, have once again demonstrated that the future of aerospace can be written in the colours of the Romanian flag.
Over 150 teams from more than 20 countries participated in the event, but the 2Space team stood out with an innovative project. Project YODA, a rocket approximately 2.9 metres high and weighing 35 kilograms, was designed to reach a target altitude of 9,000 metres in less than 60 seconds.
What should have been a simple engineering mission turned into a real adventure. Transported from Romania to the United States in the hold of a ship, the rocket arrived in the Texas desert, where the 2Space team had to face a series of unexpected obstacles: sandstorms, delays in the delivery of critical components promised by suppliers, and logistical restrictions caused by oil exploration in the area. Despite these difficulties, the team did not give up. With pure engineering spirit, backed by determination and ingenuity, the young people managed to assemble, prepare and launch the rocket they had designed and built entirely themselves, in a memorable moment for Romanian aerospace technology.
The success of the 2Space team represents more than just an academic or engineering achievement. It is a clear demonstration of Romania's potential in the aerospace field and a real opportunity to position itself as a regional leader in technology and innovation. The achievements of these young Romanians show that Romania has all the human resources necessary to count on the world map of progress.
The 2Space team has now entered a new phase – post-launch data analysis, which is essential for refining future prototypes and international participation.
‘It is an honour to represent Romania at the highest level in aerospace engineering. We have demonstrated that perseverance, solid education and passion can make any dream come true – even at thousands of metres above sea level,’ said Cătălin Chelmuș, leader of the 2Space team.
The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, through its national campaign ‘100 Youngsters for Romania's Development’, continues to identify and support young people with potential for excellence, offering them real platforms for international recognition.
