The UK CanSat Competition Offers Students To Design and Launch a Mini Satellite

The UK CanSat Competition, organized by ESERO-UK, offers students practical experience in developing small-scale space projects. Participants design and construct a satellite simulation within the dimensions of a soft drink can. This project requires integrating essential satellite subsystems, including power, sensors, and communication systems, into the compact space of the can.

The competition provides students with a unique, hands-on experience in a real space project. They have the opportunity to manage each stage of the process. The winning team will receive an invitation to a European learning and celebratory event organized by ESA.

The CanSat Challenge

Once their CanSats are built, teams are invited to launch events across the UK. During these events, CanSats are launched on small rockets and then descend back to Earth using parachutes designed by the students. While descending, teams must complete a primary mission of measuring air pressure and temperature and transmitting this data to a ground station.

Eligibility Requirements

Teams from any institution (school or college) based in the UK can participate in the competition. Applicants must be over 14 at the time of the competition. Moreover, 50% or more of the members in a team must be citizens of an ESA Member State or Associate State. Each team must consist of three to six students, with guidance from an instructor or teacher. Schools or colleges can register multiple teams to partake in the competition. 

Beyond the primary mission, teams are encouraged to develop a secondary mission of their choice. Real-world satellite missions can inspire this secondary mission, address specific scientific questions, demonstrate student-developed technologies, or achieve any other feasible objective within the CanSat’s capabilities.

The competition runs annually from October to April. For detailed guidelines and more information, please visit the official website. Furthermore, registration is set to close on October 10, 2024.