How I Developed a Satellite the Size of a Soda Can
I developed a satellite the size of a can during my first year of High School for the European Space Agency's (ESA) CanSat competition.
What is the CanSat Contest?
The CanSat competition is a contest where teams of students from all over Europe develop a satellite the size of a can for a specific mission. The satellite must be able to perform a series of tasks, such as measuring temperature, pressure, and altitude, and transmit the data to a ground station through radio communication. The goal of the competition is to promote STEM education and inspire young people to pursue careers in science and technology. You can learn more about the CanSat competition on the ESA's website by clicking here.
Our CanSat Project
Our team consisted of six students, and we worked on the project for several months. We designed the satellite using CAD software and 3D-printed the case. We used an Arduino microcontroller to collect the data from the sensors and transmit it to the ground station. We also developed a parachute system to ensure a safe landing of the satellite because it was launched from a high altitude by a plane.
Throughout the months, we conducted many tests, launching the CanSat from high buildings and even from a professional skydiver. Our CanSat was equipped with temperature, pressure, altitude, CO2, O2, light, and humidity sensors, and radio communication modules. The mission of our CanSat was to monitor and control the air quality and pollution levels in the atmosphere.
We documented the journey in a small video, which you can watch here. It captures the excitement, the learning curve, and the ultimate success of launching our little satellite.
❌ Unsupported block ($video)D-Day & Downfall
We did a field trip and spent the weekend at the Aeródromo de Santa Cruz, where the competition was held. I remember that during the trip in the van to the aerodrome, we were still working on the code and the electronics of the CanSat. We spent Friday and Saturday working on the final touches of the project and doing some tests, and we barely slept.
On the day of the launch, we were all very nervous, and we still had some issues with the electronics that we had to fix at the last minute (literally 5 minutes before the launch). The launch was a failure. During the time the CanSat was falling from the plane, everything was working perfectly, and we got the data we needed for the mission report. However, the parachute didn't open, and the CanSat crashed on the ground. The parachute didn't open because of a little nut that wasn't screwed in tightly enough, and this incident gave us a private joke that we still remember to this day. Unfortunately, we were not able to recover the CanSat (next time, I guarantee I won't forget to include a GPS module).
I'll be honest, I lost the source code and the report we made for the project, so I don't really remember the conclusions we reached about the mission. But we had the data we needed, and the presentation of the mission was a success. Unfortunately, because the parachute didn't deploy, we were only able to get 2nd place in the competition. We were all very sad and disappointed because we put so much effort into the project and were so close to winning. The most heartbreaking part was not being able to recover the CanSat; we spent so much time working on it that it was like our baby. We were all very tired and fell asleep on the van ride back to Lisbon.
Just a Kid
This was the first "big project" I did where I had to commit a considerable amount of time and effort. Looking back, I realize that the CanSat competition was a valuable experience that taught me a lot about telecommunications, electronics, and perseverance. It was a challenging project that required us to think creatively and work together to overcome obstacles. Even though we didn't win the competition, I'm proud of what we accomplished and the skills we developed along the way.
I still have fond memories of the time we spent working on the CanSat and the excitement of launching it into the sky. When I think about this project, it still gives me immense joy (and "saudade"), and I remember the memories with a smile on my face. It's funny to think I was just a kid when I did this project; I was only 15 years old. Even though there was so much I didn't know, I was able to learn while doing this project and grow through the experience.
Honestly, this project isn't as hard as it seems; it just requires a lot of time and effort. I really believe anyone can do something similar if they put their mind to it and dedicate themselves to the project. If you have the opportunity to participate in a similar competition or project, I highly recommend you do it. Don't be afraid of not knowing something; you will learn how to do it along the way. It's a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, and have fun.
Acknowledgements
I remember vividly one of the first classes of Physics I had in high school. My teacher (Prof. Conceição Pedruco) asked us to do an introductory presentation about ourselves. When she heard me and a friend of mine talk, she stopped the class, took us downstairs, interrupted the classes of another physics teacher, and introduced us to her (Prof. Cristina Pinho). This professor was the big boss of the school when it came to projects and competitions. She was forming a team to participate in the CanSat competition and wanted us to join.
This is one of those butterfly effect moments. If it wasn't for these two teachers, I would never have participated in the CanSat competition and would never have developed the CanSat. I don't think they will read this, but I want to thank them for the opportunity they gave me and the moments they helped me live. Thank you, Prof. Conceição Pedruco and Prof. Cristina Pinho.