On September 30th, the Argo Student Robotics Team had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Gernot Grömer, president of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), in Belgrade.

On October 1st, Dr. Grömer delivered a seminar at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Belgrade, providing attendees with an in-depth overview of OeWF’s work, including their ambitious AMADEE missions. He emphasized the significance of Mars analog missions and shared the technical challenges involved in simulating human missions to Mars.

The highlight of the visit was the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between OeWF and Argo. This agreement marks the beginning of new, collaborative projects in space exploration and robotics. During a morning interview with Nikola Zgonjanin, president of the Argo team, Dr. Grömer discussed the partnership, shed light on Mars analog missions, and previewed future plans.

“Groups like Argo can be like a loose bullet; they can try out crazy ideas, who are not afraid to fail […] Having to work with limited resources, under constrained conditions, with not everybody being the top world specialist in whatever their field is, is an extremely important lesson for them to learn, and that’s something they will benefit from throughout their entire careers. So being part of such a student team is a booster I can only recommend,”

Dr. Gernot Grömer emphasized during the interview.

This cooperation agreement represents a historic achievement for Serbia and the region, as Argo is the first and only team in Serbia dedicated to planetary robotics. Argo has managed to attract the attention of space agencies and associations. This partnership opens doors to future partnerships, giving Serbian students a unique platform in space robotics.

As part of this collaboration, Argo will participate in the World’s Biggest Analog (WBA), contributing a Mars rover and drone that the students will construct themselves. This opportunity will offer hands-on experience, equipping students with valuable skills for their future careers as innovators and engineers.

About Argo Robotics Team
Founded in 2022, the Argo Student Robotics Team unites students from diverse backgrounds in Belgrade with a passion for space robotics. Argo gives students the chance to apply and expand their knowledge through practical projects, while fostering teamwork and collaboration. Their partnership with OeWF marks a major milestone, enabling them to contribute to prominent international missions. https://argorobotics.rs/