13-03-2026 13:00

1764372646700 UFV is the first private Spanish university to join the European Space Agency's programme | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Introduction

The Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) has been selected to participate in programme BLESS BEXUS of the European Space Agency (ESA), a milestone that makes it the first private university in Spain to join this leading initiative in the aerospace sector. With this, UFV also ranks as the eighth Spanish team in the programme history and the first in our country to achieve this since 2023.

The university’s participation in BEXUS is also part of a course offered by the Higher Polytechnic School, which underscores the value of an educational model capable of fostering, right from the classroom, projects with an international scope, a high technical standard, and a clear focus on innovation.

UFV students during their presentation

A programme in the European aerospace ecosystem

The programme , a collaboration between the German Space Agency (DLR), the Swedish Space Agency (SNSA), and the European Space Agency (ESA), offers European university students a world-class experimental platform for developing and validating technology under conditions similar to those of a space mission.

In the case of BEXUS, the experiments are carried aboard a stratospheric balloon capable of reaching an altitude of 30 kilometers, exposing the payloads to extreme pressure and temperature conditions. Being part of this initiative means entering a highly competitive environment, in which teams must pass rigorous technical reviews conducted by international experts and demonstrate the scientific, technological, and operational viability of their developments.

BLESS: IoT connectivity in extreme conditions

The project for which UFV was selected is called BLESS (BEXUS HaLow Evaluation in Stratospheric Systems). Its objective is to conduct the first in-flight characterization of the Wi-Fi HaLow (IEEE 802.11ah) protocol in the stratosphere, in order to analyze how this technology behaves during ascent and to evaluate the resilience of commercial hardware under extreme environmental conditions.

The experiment aims to fill a significant technological gap. Although the Internet of Things requires reliable communication standards that connect terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, the Wi-Fi HaLow protocol—which is particularly promising due to its long range—has not yet been validated in aerospace environments. BLESS’s mission is to provide that knowledge and establish a benchmark for vertical link quality with potential future application in high-altitude platforms and satellites.

Interdisciplinary talent and applied excellence

The team is made up of students from Francisco de Vitoria University studying various engineering disciplines, including Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence Systems. Their selection as the only Spanish team chosen for this edition underscores the value of young university talent and the UFV’s commitment to technological excellence and applied research.

In the words of Mario Martínez, a student at UFV and team lead for the BLESS project, “The fact that our proposal has been selected in Europe is a great joy and a great responsibility. For UFV, this achievement demonstrates that academic rigor and confidence in our students’ talent enable us to reach world-class goals and contribute, right from the classroom, to Europe’s major technological challenges.”

1764372657500 UFV is the first private Spanish university to join the European Space Agency's programme | UFV Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

UFV students during one of their visits

Next phase: flight campaign in Sweden

Following this selection, the project will now undergo a series of reviews and validation phases, culminating in a flight campaign scheduled for October 2026 in Sweden.

Participation in BEXUS thus represents not only recognition of the work accomplished, but also a demonstration of UFV’s ability to train professionals who are prepared to address the technological challenges of the present and the future with rigour, innovation, and an international perspective.