Space week, IEEE Day and Hidrochallenge Colombia 2026
SPACE WEEK 2026, IEEE Day & HIDROCHALLENGE COLOMBIA 2026
IEEE AESS Unicauca × Aerospace Engineering Research Seedbed (SIA)
Universidad del Cauca — Popayán, Colombia
October 2026 · 5 Days of Aerospace Science, Technology, and Innovation
Space Week 2026 and HidroChallenge Colombia 2026 are held jointly as a 5-day event at Universidad del Cauca, in celebration of IEEE Day. HidroChallenge Colombia is the first international water-rocket competition hosted at the university, co-organized with CDA and HidroChallenge IPN, bringing together teams from across Colombia and Ecuador for a week of technical exhibitions, conferences, and competition.
Over these five days, the university community and the public will have access to talks by IEEE Distinguished Lecturers, hands-on technology workshops, exhibition stands featuring aerospace projects, oral presentations from competing teams to a panel of judges, and the culmination of the event with rocket launches across all competition categories, followed by the awards ceremony. This is a free, open event for students, IEEE members, researchers, and the general public.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
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- Popayan, Cauca
- Colombia
- Starts 10 August 2026 05:00 AM UTC
- Ends 05 October 2026 05:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Jesús Gonzales Llorente
Design of Efficient and Electrical Power Systems for Small Spacecraft
Biography:
Dr. Jesus Gonzalez-Llorente received his undergraduate degree in electronics engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia at Manizales in 2003, his Specialized Diploma in Software Engineering from Francisco Jose de Caldas District University in 2005, his M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez in 2009, and his Ph.D. degree in Engineering from the Kyushu Institute of Technology at Kitakyushu, Japan in 2019.
He was a researcher in the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center - Arecibo Observatory under Cornell University operation during 2010. He also was an adjunct professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and a visiting scholar at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, USA. He is a professor at École de technologie supérieure in Montreal, Canada, and a visiting researcher at the Nihon University, Japan. His research activities include solar photovoltaic systems, AI for space, small satellites, and space systems engineering.
Dr. Gonzalez-Llorente is an IEEE Senior Member. He received the Emerging Space Leader Grant from the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in 2015. He also received the United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship from 2016-2019 to participate in the Space Engineering International Course in the Department of Applied Science for Integrated Systems Engineering in Kyutech, Japan, as part of the Post-graduate Study on Nanosatellite Technology in collaboration with United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Dr. Jesus Gonzalez-Llorente has been recognized as an associate researcher by the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation of Colombia.
Email:
Address:Popayan, Cauca, Colombia
Kumar Vijay Mishra
Intelligent reflecting surfaces for radar and communications
Biography:
Email:
Address:Popayan, Cauca, Colombia
Agenda
Day 1 (Oct 5) opens with a dedicated testing window, giving competing teams the opportunity to test their rockets on campus ahead of the competition. In the afternoon, the event officially kicks off with the opening ceremony, a welcome session for all participants, an introductory talk, and the first round of technology exhibition stands open to the university community.
Day 2(Oct 6) is built around technical and educational content: a series of Distinguished Lecturer conferences, a hands-on technology workshop, activities in celebration of IEEE Day, and continued technology exhibition stands for attendees to explore.
Day 3(Oct 7) marks the official start of HidroChallenge Colombia 2026, with competing teams delivering oral presentations of their rocket designs to the judging panel, alongside ongoing technology stands showcasing student and partner projects.
Day 4(Oct 8) is the most visible day of the event: rocket launches across all competition categories take place on campus, accompanied by broader technology showcases featuring rockets, drones, and aircraft from participating teams and collaborators. This day marks the close of the competitive phase.
Day 5(Oct 9) brings the event to a close with the awards ceremony, recognizing the winning teams across categories, followed by a closing farewell to all participants, mentors, and partner organizations.
Organized by IEEE AESS Unicauca and the Aerospace Engineering Research Seedbed (SIA) — Universidad del Cauca
In partnership with CDA and HidroChallenge IPN
📍 Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Cauca, Colombia