CanSat triumph
A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a regular soft drink can. CanSats offer unique opportunities for students to experience their first real space-related project. — ESA: CanSats in Europe
In a European competition organised by the European Space Agency’s education office and the Norwegian Centre for Space-related Education, Team Eclipse from St Paul’s, representing the UK, came first. Congratulations to the team: Matthew Willetts (team leader); Bryant Tan (head of electronics and programming); Alex Turdean (head of fabrication and materials); Jacob Ader, Cameron Lemon (R&D); Edward Scallan, John Beckett, Tim Palmer (fabrication and materials; John also looked after PR); Seah Quah, Mihir Bhushan (electronics and programming). The team recorded their progress on their own weblog, Team Eclipse's Blog, and on Twitter.
From the team of ten, four — Matthew, Bryant, Jacob and Tim — made the journey to the launch site at Skarsteindalen in the Arctic Circle to win the gold award.
[St Paul’s] CanSat produced a wind profile of its descent to facilitate the accurate placement of the drop of a hypothetical second payload. How the CanSat is moved by the wind during its descent can be turned into accurate data about wind velocities at different altitudes. The payload included a GPS chip on a custom designed pcb and a digital compass. — Eureka Magazine
Read a full account of the trip to Norway, and of launch day, on Bryant’s weblog, visit the team’s Facebook page and watch their videos.
