We set out for Elche, Spain to present our first major research at ESA. Up to this point it has been an amazing ride, but this was just the beginning. The moment we arrived, it was clear that this event would be something special. The conference brought together brilliant people from across Europe and beyond, most of whom had been doing this kind of work since before we were born.
The Opening
Sunday kicked off with the opening party. Live music, good food, and a flood of new faces. It was exciting and slightly terrifying at the same time. We were probably the youngest people in the room, standing there with drinks in hand, trying to look like we totally belonged. The feeling was like walking into a club where everyone already knew the playlist and we were still figuring out the lyrics.
Monday: Breaking the Ice
Monday began with the opening keynotes. Speakers from ESA, DSI, and the Technical University of Madrid took the stage to talk about the future of onboard computing and upcoming missions. The topics felt huge, sometimes almost out of reach, but they pushed us to think bigger. To see that what we are building at Shobolinsky could genuinely have a place in this industry.
By lunchtime we were still slightly lost in the sea of experts who seemed to have known each other for years. The conversations around us were about satellites, AI optimization, and mission budgets, while we were just hoping not to spill our drinks. But after a few awkward smiles and one well-timed comment about surviving all-nighters with too much caffeine, the ice finally cracked. People were curious about what we were building, and suddenly we found ourselves deep in conversations about AI accelerators and space-grade systems.
Tuesday and Wednesday: Learning, Laughing, Surviving
Tuesday was a marathon of presentations and technical sessions. We saw research on adaptive hardware, new algorithms for OBDP (Onboard Data Processing), and ideas so advanced they sounded like science fiction. We left every session with our brains fried in the best possible way. Each talk opened new paths for how we could improve Coral Reef, our AI platform, and maybe one day make it truly ready for orbit.
By Wednesday, our schedule was packed with meetings, talks, and side conversations. Everyone was tired but buzzing with ideas. Then came our now infamous Santa Pola coffee break. Just us, the Shobolinsky duo, standing on a sunny beach in full suits, drinking espresso and talking about radiation-hardened AI chips while the wind tried to steal our notes. It felt wrong and perfect at the same time. The photos from that day say it all: chaos, caffeine, and confidence.
Thursday: Showtime
By Thursday morning the tension had a pulse. Our presentation was coming up and the reality of it hit hard. The night before we ran through everything one last time, tweaking slides and joking about how “what could possibly go wrong” is usually the moment before everything does.
Kristof took the stage right after lunch, when everyone was still recovering from food and caffeine. The timing was brutal, but the delivery was spot on. The presentation covered our work on low power onboard AI processing, focusing on how to make it more accessible and adaptable for real missions. The talk went smooth, questions came fast, and the discussion after was even better. People asked about future applications, testing in orbit, and the possibilities of making Coral Reef radiation hardened. By the time it ended, the tension had turned into pure adrenaline.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
EDHPC 2025 was more than just a conference. It was a checkpoint for us. We came in as students with a big idea and left as a team with a clear direction. We learned how the space industry really thinks, how research becomes missions, and how to stand our ground among people who have been doing this longer than we’ve been alive.
We made connections that already are turning into collaborations. We learned what we need to improve, and we saw where we fit into the bigger picture of space innovation. Most of all, we proved that we belong here.
This was just the beginning. Shobolinsky is coming back stronger, bolder, and probably still overdressed for coffee at the beach.
The future is clear, and we are already working on what comes next.