The 4th session at the International Children’s Center “Artek” served as the grand finale of the 10th anniversary season of the All-Russian Competition for Young Engineers and Researchers “Sputnik” with international participation.
Throughout the session, 48 finalists—representing 31 regions of Russia and two delegates from the Republic of Kazakhstan—engaged in an intensive educational program developed by experts from Samara University. They explored the functionality of spaceports, studied launch vehicle architecture, learned spacecraft classification and real-world applications, designed aircraft using KOMPAS-3D software, and even assembled engine layouts for rockets and airplanes of various types.
Led by university instructors, the curriculum spanned three specialized tracks:
- Rocket and Space Engineering
- Aircraft Design
- Aerospace Power Systems
Beyond lectures and hands-on workshops, participants met with representatives from Samara University’s Office of Career Guidance and Talent Development, took part in a space-themed science quiz, and enjoyed a cosmic movie night. Their enthusiasm and active involvement ensured the full realization of the program—earning praise not only from the students themselves but also from Artek’s administration.
On April 25, the team hosted the culminating event of the “Sputnik” supplementary educational program: the “Just Space” Science Lecture Series at the Suuk-Su Palace. The event brought together over 200 Artek campers from four camps—Yantarny, Morskoy, Lesnoy, and Lazurny.
Six “Sputnik” finalists took the stage as speakers, each delivering a concise, engaging talk based on their competition projects. The format encouraged audience interaction—attendees asked questions, shared thoughts, and became active participants in a dynamic scientific dialogue.
“‘Just Space’ is a special milestone for our entire team,” said Sergey Goryainov, Head of Student Recruitment and Support at Samara University and Director of the “Sputnik” Competition.
“This format has already proven its value: here, the students themselves become the voice of science, speaking to their peers in a language that resonates. It’s not just a lecture—it’s a new culture of scientific communication taking shape. The finalists don’t only share knowledge—they learn to explain complex ideas clearly, engage audiences, and speak with confidence. This anniversary season has shown how powerful it is to blend theory, hands-on practice, and interactive outreach. The ‘Sputnik’ team delivered an outstanding program, and once again, Samara University’s collaboration with Artek has become a successful model for nurturing future engineers.”
Since 2017, finalists of the “Sputnik” Competition have had the unique opportunity to attend Artek—the nation’s premier youth center—and complete a specially designed supplementary educational program crafted by the competition’s academic experts. This year’s edition reaffirmed Samara University’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of aerospace innovators through immersive, forward-looking science education.
