to detail. Once again, teams have pushed the boundaries in terms of their CanSat design and missions; and wowed the judges with their advanced knowledge of complex space science concepts.”
Hugh Fitzgibbon, member of the winning team from Crescent College Comprehensive said, “The CanSat experience has been fantastic. From wiring up the components, analysing data, meeting local primary school children and chasing our CanSat after the rocket launch we have had an incredible journey. It was extremely exciting to travel to Norway and meet other students from their respective countries and share our experience with them. We were particularly proud to be flying the tricolour in the Arctic Circle!”
Irish students have achieved notable success in the European CanSat competition which is run by the European Space Agency (ESA). Last year, a team of nine students from Colaiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire, Co Cork, went on to achieve second place at the European final in the Netherlands.
Stephanie O’Neill, ESERO Ireland Manager, Science Foundation Ireland, said “The CanSat competition requires students to work collaboratively to develop a complex device using advanced science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills. Fostering these skills at second-level and offering students the chance to experience real-life STEM applications in the context of an exciting space project shows them the potential opportunities that exist in STEM careers, and indeed, in the Irish and international space sector.”
For further information on how to how to enter your school for 2015, Interested students and teachers can contact Stephanie O’ Neill on 01 607 3014 or
stephanie.oneill@sfi.ie
Ireland’s stellar achievement
in European space competition Congratulations to secondary school students from Crescent College Comprehensive in Limerick who succeeded in achieving third place at the 2014 European CanSat Competition in Andøya, Norway last April. Students from 14 countries across Europe participated in this unique European Space Agency (ESA) competition to build a CanSat - a simulation of a real satellite integrated within the volume of a soft drinks can – which was then launched by rocket to a height of 1km.
The test for teams was to include all the major subsystems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system. At launch stage this week, the primary mission was to measure temperature and air pressure; and transmit the data to the ground station (a laptop). As a secondary mission, Crescent College Comprehensive chose to measure water vapour as well as installing an ultrasonic detector to detect objects in space and a magnetometer to detect changes in the earth’s magnetic field. Teams then analysed the data and presented their findings to a panel of judges.
The team from Crescent College Comprehensive had been gearing up for the competition since last September, having recently fought off stiff competition from five other Irish teams to soar to success at the 2014 ESERO Ireland – CEIA CanSat national final at Birr Castle, Co. Offaly. Teams worked with mentors and industry partners to select missions for their CanSats and test and integrate the components.
Speaking at the final in Norway, Slawomir Zdybski from ESA’s Education Office said, “The quality of the projects presented by the student teams this week was exceptional and we would like to congratulate all those involved on their commitment and attention
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Schools participating in the CanSat Competition 2014: Leinster – Mentored by Dublin Institute of Technology St. Paul’s CBS, North Brunswick Street **Regional winner** Coláiste Éanna, Ballyroan **Regional winner** Munster – Mentored by Cork Institute of Technology Douglas Community School, Cork **Regional winner**
Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick **3rd place - European CanSat Competition** Connacht – Mentored by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Gairmscoil Mhuire, Athenry**Regional winner** Mercy Convent, Galway**Regional winner**
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