Transition year students from St. Columba’s College in Dublin won the coveted national title and will represent Ireland at the 2017 European CanSat National Finals.
A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite developed in the size and shape of a soft drink can. A European Space Agency initiative, CanSat is designed to inspire young people to pursue a career in the STEM with the ultimate goal of ensuring the availability of a highly qualified workforce in the space industry of the future.
In recent months, regional competitions have taken place across Ireland, in partnership with the Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Sligo.
Regional winners from Moate Community College (Athlone IT), Mount Mercy College (CIT), Belvedere College and St. Columba’s College (DIT), Colaiste Muire Ennis (GMIT), Kilrush Community School (LIT), and Mercy College (ITS), gathered in Emo Court, on Thursday 27 April, and launched their mini-satellites in rockets built and launched by the Irish Rocketry Society.
On Friday, 28 April, these national finalists presented their analysis, recordings and flight patterns to the judging panel consisting of Neil Murray ESA engineer, Niall Smith CIT/Blackrock Castle Observatory and Stephanie O’Neill, ESERO Ireland manager.
“ESERO Ireland’s aim, with the assistance of the European Space Agency, is to foster the skills that are required by companies operating in the space sector at an early age,” said O’Neill. “Irish teams have now enjoyed success at the European CanSat competition over a number of years, tackling complex design, engineering and mathematical challenges as well as the softer skills of teamwork, problem solving and communicating with the support of their mentors all the while gaining exposure to the exciting opportunities which a career in space science can offer. I would like to congratulate the team from St Columbas on their great achievement and wish them every success as they go on to represent Ireland at the European CanSat Competition this summer. ”
Sixteen teams will participate in the 2017 European CanSatFinals, which will be held at ZARM in partnership with the University of Bremen from 28 June to 2 July 2017.
In previous years’ students from Ireland have achieved notable success in the European CanSat competition, run by the European Space Agency (ESA). The competition is a joint collaboration between ESERO Ireland and the CEIAand is co-funded by the European Space Agency and Science Foundation Ireland.
The CanSat Ireland competition is a joint collaboration between ESERO Ireland and the CEIA and is co-funded by the European Space Agency and Science Foundation Ireland. Its industry sponsors Arralis, Xilinx Ireland and cluster group MIDAS Ireland.
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