What if your next school project involved launching a satellite into the sky?

At ACS Athens, students are not just dreaming about space exploration, they’re making it a reality through the Innovation Lab’s CanSat program, an initiative under the European Space Agency (ESA).

This year, participation in the program has doubled, with two teams of six students tackling the challenge of designing, building, and launching miniature satellites, no larger than a soda can. These satellites ascend to 1,000 meters before parachuting back to Earth, collecting critical data throughout their descent. This hands-on approach allows students to experience the entire lifecycle of an aerospace project, from concept to execution.

The program’s growing popularity stems from the success of last year’s S.M.A.L.L. Sat Team, which placed second in the national CanSat competition. Their satellite not only gathered atmospheric data but also executed a guided landing—a feat that inspired many students to join. “The four days of competition were exhausting but deeply rewarding,” says CanSat Advisor Mr. Aristotelis Thymianos, who has been instrumental in shaping the program’s success.

Each team member takes on a specialized role, from engineering and avionics to recovery and marketing. This diversity ensures that students gain experience in multiple disciplines. “CanSat lets me do engineering and programming, both things that I enjoy,” says Leonidas Lambrides, a current team member. Another student, Evgenia Bakamitsos, shares her excitement about space exploration: “There is something so captivating about rocketry—it pushes us to our human limits.” For Niko Attilakos, honing his engineering and coding skills is a source of pride and motivation.

Weekly meetings allow the teams to refine their designs, test systems, and strategize for their missions. This year, the teams are pushing the boundaries of innovation with two ambitious projects:

• Solid Sat is designed to conduct environmental analysis by measuring soil moisture, conductivity, and other parameters. It features mobility, enabling it to traverse the terrain and collect data from multiple locations. Drawing inspiration from ESA’s SMOS mission for soil monitoring and the Rosetta mission for advanced mobility and sensor integration, Solid Sat combines functionality with precision.
• Small Sat focuses on a guided landing system that ensures a controlled descent. It functions as a magnetometer, monitoring Earth’s magnetic field and predicting magnetic substorms by collecting precise data during flight and landing phases.

With their sights set on the national competition in April 2025, the teams’ ultimate goal is to represent Greece in the European finals.

The CanSat program is a cutting-edge initiative that blends engineering, programming, and collaboration, immersing students in hands-on STEM learning that prepares them for real-world challenges and future careers. “It’s a complete STEM experience,” says Mr. Thymianos. “You’re not just building a satellite—you’re building a vision.” By fostering critical thinking, teamwork, and technical skills, the program challenges students to push the boundaries of STEM education while serving as a valuable asset for college applications and STEM-related careers.

The ACS Athens Institute’s Innovation Lab bridges classroom learning with real-world applications by fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and hands-on industry experience. Programs like CanSat allow students to tackle complex, team-driven projects that mirror real-life challenges, encouraging innovation, adaptability, and leadership. By transforming education and equipping students with the skills and mindset to excel beyond the classroom, the Innovation Lab is preparing them to thrive as future global leaders. These young visionaries aren’t just dreaming of space—they’re building the skills to reach it, one satellite at a time.