Jena, Germany — On April 28th, the HSM Aries.space team had the distinct honor of representing Hochschule Schmalkalden at Space Night 2026. Organized by VESPE Jena e.V. and hosted at the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, the event brought together leading organizations, industry experts, and innovators from across the aerospace sector.
Showcasing Student-Led Engineering
Exhibiting our technology alongside established aerospace pioneers was a significant milestone for our team. As a centerpiece of the exhibition, we proudly presented our flagship Mars rover, LEAP-One.
Joining the rover on display was AQUILA, the advanced high-performance drone developed by our dedicated Drone Club. Showcasing both autonomous platforms demonstrated the comprehensive scope of our project to the wider aerospace community.
High-Level Discussions & Industry Networking
A major highlight of the evening was the opportunity to present our engineering directly to state leadership. We were honored to discuss our progress and long-term vision with the following:
- Mr. Mario Voigt, Minister-President of the Free State of Thuringia.
- Ms. Colette Boos-John, Minister for Economic Affairs, Agriculture, and Rural Areas of Thuringia.
We deeply appreciated their time. Our discussion with Minister-President Voigt was particularly motivating, and his genuine interest and encouraging feedback greatly validate our team’s hard work.
Furthermore, the event served as an exceptional platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Our engineers connected with industry experts from esteemed organizations, including:
- Starlab
- DLR Institut für Datenwissenschaften
- Jena-Optronik GmbH
Looking Ahead
We extend our sincere gratitude to the organizers at VESPE Jena e.V. for curating such a remarkable event and for providing a prestigious platform where student-led innovation can truly shine. We return to the lab more energized than ever for what lies ahead for LEAP-One and HSM Aries.space!
