Maria Inês Antunes, a 12th-year student at Escola Secundária de Amora, and Rodrigo Rodrigues, a 10th-year student at Escola Secundária Manuel Cargaleiro, were part of a team of 25 participants. They were chosen from 750 candidates nationwide after overcoming several elimination rounds that assessed logical reasoning, visual memory, spatial perception, physical aptitude, and communication skills.
As finalists of the program, the young students traveled to Santa Maria Island, in the Azores, between September 17 and 20, 2026. On the island, they engaged in group activities focused on teamwork and received training about the space sector.
The highlight of the initiative was a parabolic flight aboard the Airbus A310 ZERO-G aircraft. During the flight, which reached an altitude of approximately six thousand meters, the students experienced conditions of microgravity and weightlessness, similar to those experienced by astronauts in space.
The Municipality of Seixal congratulates Maria Inês and Rodrigo for this national distinction, hoping it will inspire other young people to pursue interests in science, technology, and innovation.
