A team of Leaving Cert Physics students from Laurel Hill Secondary School in Limerick will represent Ireland at the first European Space Agency “CanSat” competition in Norway next week.
CanSat offers students the opportunity to build their own mini “satellites” in soda cans.
The event will see the team of Genevieve McPhilemy (from Corbally), Roisin Ahearne (Kildimo) and Orla O’Brien (Patrickswell) launch their scale model of a satellite integrated into the shape and volume of a regular European soda can (115mm high and 66mm in diameter).
Space mission
Soldering tools, part of the CanSat kit. Photo: European Space Agency
A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a regular soft drink can. The challenge for the students is to fit all the major subsystems found in a satellite such as power and communications into the can, using a kit supplied by the contest organisers.
After release from a rocket or a captive balloon the CanSat has to perform a certain mission and land safety on the ground.
The missions of the Limerick team’s CanSat include measuring air temperature, air pressure and UV light levels in the atmosphere before – all going to plan – landing back safely on the ground.
European Space Agency
The competition is organised by the European Space Agency and is part of its initiative to inspire young people to follow a career in science or engineering. The Limerick team faces stiff competition: out of 33 projects submitted from across Europe, just 11 were selected to go through to the final.
The girls’ physics teacher, Siobhan Crowe, said: “We are very proud of what we’ve created. Each student was given a role in the project such as programming, processing, data logging and design.
“The whole process has been a true team effort and regardless of the outcome of the competition we are extremely proud of our achievement”.
Learn more
Read more about the CanSat competition
