Space Research and Mini-satellites in Secondary High School

Space research, the universe and satellites are three fascinating questions to which students have no possible answers in the regular school curriculum. Therefore, every opportunity to bring these topics into school activities and closer to the students’ interest is welcome. The European CanSat competition held by ESA (European Space Agency) presented itself as one solution for meeting this demand. CanSat is a minisatellite that can be fit into a Coca-Cola soda can (330ml) and it is released from 1km altitude. This mini device is based on Arduino- microcontroller and it performs certain scientific missions like measuring air pressure, temperature, humidity, dust pollution, radiation level, location, telemetry, etc. This competition and the preparation period are useful for students as they offer a special opportunity to learn about sensors, microcontrollers, radio communication, space research missions, project management. Furthermore, they help the development of technical skills and applications of the acquired theories.