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Launching Dreams: ACS Athens CanSat Team Prepares to Take Flight

Dec 7, 2023 | News

Forget “Houston, we have a problem.” Instead, consider, “Athens, we have an opportunity!”

That’s because 13 dedicated students have formed the ACS Athens CanSat team with a mission to design, construct, and launch a small can-sized satellite (CanSat) packed with scientific instruments and compete in the CanSat in Greece competition.

Students have been launching satellites worldwide through the CanSat program since the 1990s, with schools in Europe joining the program in 2010. Teams from schools in Greece orbited to 2nd place at the European level and dream of rocketing to first place soon.

The CanSat in Greece competition empowers students to showcase ingenuity and technical prowess in aerospace engineering. By simulating a real satellite mission, the competition challenges participants to address complex problems in design, construction, and data analysis. The S.M.A.L.L. Sat team embraces this opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, fostering innovation, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of space science.

Known as the S.M.A.L.L. Sat Team, the ACS Athens CanSat team is dedicated to presenting a meticulously-crafted CanSat that not only meets competition standards but also contributes meaningfully to scientific exploration and understanding. Through collaboration and specialization in various roles, the team is executing a dual mission: the primary objective involves collecting atmospheric data, including pressure, temperature, and geographic coordinates, while the secondary mission focuses on implementing a guided landing system and incorporating a magnetometer for magnetic field analysis.

Based out of the Innovation Lab, the S.M.A.L.L. Satteam operates through a carefully assigned set of roles, each crucial to the success of the CanSat project. Each team’s specialized expertise, outlined below, contributes synergistically to the multifaceted success of the CanSat mission, encompassing design, construction, communication, and data analysis.

  • The Mechanical Design team handles the physical structure and mechanisms.
  • The Electrical Design team focuses on implementing electronic systems.
  • The Primary and Secondary Mission team define and execute the mission’s objectives, work on landing and navigation and analyze critical data.
  • The Aerodynamics Simulations team optimizes the CanSat’s performance during descent.
  • The Construction team is responsible for physically assembling all CanSat components.
  • Telecommunication specialists manage communication systems for reliable data transmission.
  • Data Analysis processes and interprets mission data from various sensors.
  • The Marketing & Social Media team is responsible for project promotion, engagement, and potential sponsorships.

Currently, the team is actively engaged in advancing the primary mission, preparing its inaugural Technical Report for the competition organizers’ evaluation. This assessment stands as a pivotal determinant for the team’s progression within the competition.

“Reach for the stars, S.M.A.L.L. Sat! As you design and launch your CanSat, remember that the sky is not the limit—your creativity, innovation, and teamwork will take you beyond,” coach Aristotelis Thymianos reminds the team. “Embrace the challenges, enjoy the journey, and let your curiosity soar among the stars. Best of luck as you explore the universe of knowledge and discovery!”

To secure necessary funds required by CanSat for their submission, they recently undertook a 3D-printing initiative, crafting Christmas ornaments that were unveiled and offered for sale at the Christmas Bazaar hosted by ACS Athens PTO, adding a festive flair to their fundraising efforts and generating support for their racing endeavors.

As our S.M.A.L.L. SatTeam propels its CanSat mission forward, they don’t just navigate the complexities of aerospace engineering; they launch dreams and inspire future generations of space enthusiasts.

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