2023 European CanSat Competition
In brief
The European CanSat Competition is an ESA Education project that promotes STEM skills amongst young European students through project-based learning. A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can. The team’s challenge is to fit all the major subsystems of a satellite inside this minimal volume, launched by a small rocket up to an altitude of 1 km. As the CanSat descends, its mission begins.
In-depth
Registration for the 2023 European CanSat Competition is now open!
Teams of 3 to 6 secondary school students, aged 14-19 years old, from ESA Member States, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania Slovakia, and Slovenia are invited to participate.
The project phases are:
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Imagine
In this preliminary phase, your team must design a CanSat that will achieve the mission requirements.
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Build & Test
Bring your imagined CanSat to life by building it, ensuring that it meets all the technical requirements. Make sure to test, test, and test!
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Launch
The CanSat will be launched to an altitude of up to 1 kilometre by a rocket or dropped from a drone or captive balloon, at which point its mission begins. This takes place during the national competition and at the European CanSat Launch Campaign.
Many countries host national CanSat competitions every year. If this is the case in your country, you should first participate in your national CanSat competition. If your team wins, you will be able to participate in the European CanSat Competition.
This is not the case for students from Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These countries do not have a national competition yet, so you should apply directly through ESA.
Click here to apply and find out whether your country has a national competition.
The winning team from each of the national competitions, along with the teams selected directly by ESA, will participate in the European launch campaign, which will take place from 26 to 30 June 2023. The location* of the European CanSat Competition will be announced in early 2023. Most of the campaign costs, including accommodation and meals, will be covered by ESA; however, the flights to the location will need to be covered by the participants.
Download the 2023 CanSat Competition Guidelines for full eligibility criteria, rules, and other important information. See the timeline for key competition dates.
ESA is looking forward to welcoming your team to the 2023 European CanSat Competition. Good luck to everyone taking part. We hope to see you there!
*Disclaimer: Plans to host a physical CanSat gathering are subject to COVID-19 developments.