The CanSat Project

What is CanSat Portugal? CanSat Portugal is an educational project of the European Space Agency (ESA), organized in Portugal by the Aerospace Center of the Aeroclube de Torres Vedras in cooperation with Ciência Viva - National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, with the aim of providing Portuguese students their first experience in projects related to aerospace technology. The Pedagogical Importance The CanSat Mission implies a great involvement and ability for students to work as a team in an environment that produces a real operating scenario, enhancing the practical application of the knowledge acquired throughout their school career. At a pedagogical level, this experimental mission implies learning based on problem solving, where each student must demonstrate the ability to work in a team, using the available resources. The challenge The CanSat (can-shaped satellite) is a functional model of a micro-satellite, in which all systems are integrated into the size of a soda can. The CanSat is launched by a rocket up to a pre-defined altitude (1000 meters) so that during the descent it is possible to carry out a scientific experiment, capture the emitted signals (telemetry) and guarantee a safe landing. The challenge for the team that executes the CanSat Mission is to design, build, test and operate a CanSat keeping in mind certain fundamental objectives, such as: • Definition of mission objectives • CanSat general project • Component Integration • Definition and implementation of the recovery method • Functional verification • Flight test on board an aircraft • Preparation for launch • Rocket Launch • Telemetry/data analysis • Cost control • Preparation of progress reports • Results presentation • Distribution of work among team members

Operational Information The dimensions of the CanSat module are identical to those of a soda can, in the form of a cylinder, 115 mm high and 66 mm in diameter, with a mass of 350g. According to the ESA regulation, these parameters will have to be strictly adhered to. Antennas and other devices (sensors, parachute, etc) can be mounted externally, but the CanSat's outer casing cannot be larger than the regulatory dimensions until the module is ejected from the rocket.

Learn More