Introductory Video

We prepared this video for the European Space Agency to introduce our project to our fellow Europeans!

Aluminium Can -v- PVC Can

In my last blog post, I was exploring the advantages of using a PVC Can versus an aluminium can.

Teams can either construct the CanSat from scratch or cut open a soft drinks can - either way, they must meet certain measurements.

The PVC may had added extra structural strength to the CanSat and provided us with an alternative way of mounting our sensors. However, the external diameter of the PVC pipe we were going to use was too large, and it's weight would have been slightly impractical.

So we have decided to continue to use a soft drinks can as our exterior. Our first can has endured two Quadcopter drops, a crane drop and a rocket launch. As a result, I am currently constructing a new case for the sensors that will have more strategically placed holes for ventilation.

By Evan

S.D CARD LOGGER

We decided to use an S.D card logger in our can because we wanted to back up our wireless transmission. We are using the adafruit micro S.D card breakout because it was small and easily fits inside our CanSat. 

The process of coding the logger was tricky as it required a complete re-structure of our code.

This S.D Card logger will now save the data collected should the wireless system fail to operate. 

By Chris 

Irish Science Teachers' Association Conference 

Yesterday, members of the team travelled to National University of Ireland, Galway to speak at the Irish Science Teachers' Association Annual Conference. 

The prestigious event is open to all members of the Irish Science Teachers' Association and is in its fifty second year. Keynote speakers included Professor Martyn Poilakoff (University of Nottingham), Professor Jim Al-Khalili (University of Surrey), Professor Elaine Fox (University of Oxford) and many more. The conference began on Friday the 11th of April where European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Marie Geoghegan Quinn gave an opening address. 

Candroid briefly spoke about the project to a lecture theatre full of science teachers. We outlined the project, our primary and secondary mission and our outreach programme. We also displayed data from the Regional and National Competition. We finished by highlighting the benefits of participating in CanSat and told the teachers where they can keep up to date with all of our activities. 

It was a wonderful opportunity to broadcast our project on a national scale and it was important to us that we involved the educators of our country in the project. 

Thank you to ESERO Ireland and the Irish Science Teachers' Association. 

By Tayyaba & Hugh 

Secondary Mission 

After winning the National Final, we decided that we needed to add to our secondary mission. The issue of space debris fascinated us and we spent a lot of time researching how we could replicate satellites breaking up in space. We decided that it wouldn't be feasible and turned to other areas. 

Our secondary mission includes the following:

• GPS: To find the can after launch and also to help with profiling our data
• Humidity sensor: useful in a space mission to find water, useful especially when combined with temperature and pressure in analysis of weather
• Radiation sensor: to compare radiation levels at different altitudes
• Magnetometer: to examine variations in the magnetic field strength with altitude
• Ultrasonic sensor: for measuring the parachute activities over the duration of the flight

We now have to finish the coding and place them in the can. 

By Chris 

GPS: To find the can afte

Trip to St. Paul's National School! 

Today, Tayyaba, Ms O'Dea and I visited 5th class students (10-11 years old) in St. Paul's National School. After a warm reception from the Vice- Principal and the Class Teacher, we greeted the eager students who were ready to have some fun. 

We began by explaining the project and why we were there. They were fascinated when we told them that we had placed a satellite inside a can. We then discussed Isaac Newton, Gravity and explained Newton's Third Law. We showed them a video of the rocket used in the National Final. 

They were then placed into teams of two and we began demonstrating Newton's Third Law. Similar to our 1st Year Workshop, students had to create a Rocket Cart out of straws, card and polo-mints. The children really enjoyed the activity and were able to explain why the cart was being pushed forward by the end of the activity. 

The hands-on activity gave them a real insight into engineering. Many teams faced difficulties and could not get the carts to move. Just like an engineer investigates and alters the project to rectify errors, the students spotted that some of the walls to the cart stopped the cart from moving. Without asking any of us, they instinctively removed the walls which solved the problem. This demonstrated the incredible initiative the children have. 

They then all designed their carts and we had a race to see who had built the best Rocket Cart! 

Overall, it was a really successful day and it was a wonderful way to involve the local community! Thank you to everyone in St. Paul's for allowing us to carry out this vital part of our outreach programme. 

By Hugh 

Engineering Update

After learning from our mistakes during the competition so far, we have decided to design and fabricate our own Arduino. Thanks to ON-Semiconductor, we will be designing and making our own PCB (Printed circuit board). This isn’t going to be an easy process but we are confident that we can do it. Below is a schematic of the design so far.

By Niall 

I am currently investigating the advantages and disadvantages of using a can with a PVC body versus an ordinary aluminium drinks can body. This will give us different internal diameters and different options for mounting the PCB, as well as possibly strengthening the can. 

By Evan