On Tuesday, 26th March, a team of six pupils from the Lower Fifth (Year 10) attended the Regional Launch for their CanSat project. CanSat is an open programme for all secondary pupils over the age of 14, which involves building a mini-satellite that fits in a can and launching it on an ESA rocket. The programme required the submission of two technical reports, a Preliminary Design report and a Critical Design report, promoting their project in the form of a STEM workshop at a local primary school and building their mini-satellite. Their CanSat, named CORUL, is designed to measure Carbon Monoxide (CO), Radiation (R), and Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) levels with a set of four sensors packed inside the can. The project aims to probe a planet’s surface for the potential for habitability or Life (L). The programme culminated in the final launch of their mini-satellite on a rocket.

The team ventured to a field at Aylesbury’s Westcott Venture Park to gather a data set and earn their Silver Award. The stakes were high as they were the youngest team at the launch site. CORUL’s launch went off without a hitch! The parachute deployed smoothly, the 3D-printed can securely housed all the sensors, and CORUL was recovered in full operation. All sensors operated flawlessly, and the team successfully collected a data set from the mission.

Congratulations to the aspiring rocket scientists Isla, Fern, Anya, Jade, Bianca, and Juliette for their incredible work and for earning their Industrial Cadets Silver Award!

Dr MacTavish, Head of Physics

The launch atmosphere was exhilarating as each team rushed to complete final checks on their CanSats to ensure a successful mission. The weather was also getting progressively worse and a fear of rain cut back some preparation time. Once our CanSat was launched, we held our breaths, praying that our parachute would work, our can wouldn’t break and we would receive data via our antenna. Once the first line of data appeared after our Can had been launched, we all felt incredibly excited that we were collecting our own data from the environment. Furthermore, we were equally excited when our parachute proved to be successful as the can did not break apart upon landing. Overall, it was an amazing day and we all went home feeling extremely exhausted, but very pleased. – Isla, Lower Fifth