CanSat: Build your own satellite!
Team size: 3 – 6 members + mentor
Age of members: 14 – 19 years old
Launch date of the next edition: 17 September 2024
Date of each round: to be determined (National representative must be selected by 11 May 2025)
Website: https://cansat.esa.int/
Turn a soda can (Can) into a satellite (Sat) = that’s the CanSat competition. Teams must invent, design, build and test their own satellite. They then compete against teams from all over the country. The top eight teams will have their CanSat launched into the air by rocket or plane and compete for the title of national winner.
The winning team will then represent the Czech Republic at a Europe-wide meeting at the ESA-ESTEC Technology and Development Centre in the Netherlands at the Space Engineer for a Day event on 17-18 June 2025.
Role of the teacher
A committed and enthusiastic approach from the school is essential for successful participation. The teacher supports their pupils and is the first point of contact for the school team. To help you on your journey, we run teacher training sessions.
Useful tips
Getting to know Arduino https://www.esa.int/Education/CanSat/Meet_Arduino!_Introduction_to_Arduino_computing_using_C_Teach_with_Space_T04.1
An introductory lesson on Arduino programming from the European Space Agency ESA.
Getting started: primary mission https://www.esa.int/Education/CanSat/Getting_Started_with_CanSat_A_Guide_to_the_Primary_Mission_Teach_with_Space_T08
In the mandatory primary mission, teams must measure air temperature and pressure and transmit this data to a ground station. This lesson from ESA will help you get started.
Parachute Design https://www.esa.int/Education/CanSat/Design_your_parachute_A_Guide_to_Landing_Your_CanSat_Safely_Teach_with_Space_T10
An overview of the options when designing a parachute for your CanSat. Do you know what physical phenomena you will encounter during descent and how you can control the speed of the parachute?
Radio communication https://www.esa.int/Education/CanSat/Communicating_with_Radio_Ground_Control_to_Major_CanSat_Teach_with_Space_T11
Radio communication is essential for receiving data from your CanSat. How do you set everything up correctly and how can you test to see if it works properly?
Getting started with CanSat https://www.esa.int/Education/CanSat/Communicating_with_Radio_Ground_Control_to_Major_CanSat_Teach_with_Space_T11
An excellent resource on how to get started with CanSat production and Python programming from our colleagues at ESERO in Luxembourg. A three and a half hour long instructional video and a supplementary document (https://www.esero.lu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CanSat-Raspberry-Pi-Pico-Workbook-EN-v9.pdf) on how to use a Raspberry Pi for manufacturing.
Meet the Experts: CanSat Edition https://cansat.esa.int/video-gallery/
A five-part series of interviews with experts on CanSat: Systems Engineering, On-Board Computer Processing, Radio Communication, Parachute Design, Life After CanSat.