Into Space in a Can! Regional CanSat Final winners announced

Teams of transition year students from Cork secondary schools designed, built and launched mini-satellites made in the shape of soft drink cans at the Regional final of CEIA and ESERO (European Space Education Resource Office) Ireland CanSat Final held at Cork Institute of Technology this weekend. A team of transition year girls from Mount Mercy College were the proud winners of the CanSat challenge, and they will go forward to the National CanSat event on 27 & 28 April 2017.

A CanSat is a simulation of a real satellite in the size and shape volume of a soft drink can and is a European Space Agency initiative designed to inspire young people to pursue a career in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the availability of a highly qualified workforce in the space industry of the future.

Speaking at the event said Dr. Eamon Connolly, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Promotion Officer, CEIA – Cork’s Technology Network – said: “CanSat is a unique space project that simulates a real satellite which fits into the volume of a soft drinks can – students launch their own satellite and get first-hand practical experience of a real space project. This initiative is designed to encourage and excite transition year students as to the possibilities of a career in science and engineering.”

“I would like to congratulate Mount Mercy College on their achievement, but I would also like to acknowledge the hard-work and dedication shown by our other finalists – each team did a fantastic job, the quality of the work this year was incredible,” said Stephanie O’Neill, ESERO Ireland Manager, Science Foundation Ireland Discover.

There are six regional partners including Cork Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology, Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology, Limerick Institute of Technology, Sligo Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology.

The competition is a joint collaboration between ESERO Ireland and the CEIA and is co-funded by the European Space Agency and Science Foundation Ireland Discover, the education and outreach programme managed by Science Foundation Ireland.