Competition Overview
National competitions are held each year by ESA’s ESERO offices and other partners. The winning teams from each country will attend ESA’s special event, ‘Space Engineer for a Day’, where they will:
- Explore cutting-edge space facilities and laboratories
- Meet space experts
- Present their work during a poster session
- Participate in space-themed activities and network with other teams
Primary and Secondary Missions
- Primary Mission: The CanSat must measure air pressure and air temperature during its descent, transmitting the data to a computer. Students analyze the data and present it in graphs, such as altitude vs. time or temperature vs. altitude.
- Secondary Mission: Teams can develop their own creative missions, such as advanced telemetry (GPS or radiation levels), telecommand features, landing systems, or control mechanisms for targeted landings.
Supporting Participating Teams
Schools participating in the competition receive support from partner colleges, including access to advanced labs, technical mentorship, and industry guidance. Teams are provided with a starter kit, an introductory course, and ongoing technical help from dedicated mentors.
See more information about the CanSat project here
CanSat – European Space Agency
Registration
Registration to take part in CanSat for 2025/26 will open on 15th September 2025. Check back here to register then.