Limerick students shoot for the sky in European Space Agency challenge

A TEAM of students from Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom are hoping to reach new heights at the national CanSat finals which are taking place this Friday and Saturday.

The students are hoping to build on their success at the regional finals which were held at the MTU campus in Tralee, County Kerry.

CanSat is an initiative of the European Space Agency that challenges students from all over Europe to build and launch a mini satellite the size of a soft-drink can.

The students conduct a primary mission to beam and receive altitude and temperature data to a laptop on the ground. They have added their own ideas through the Secondary mission to measure the quality of the air, barometric pressure, Global Positioning System and implementing a custom parachute system to ensure a safe landing for the CanSat.

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The team from Coláiste Chiaráin, which is made up of students from various academic backgrounds, has been working on the project over the past few months ahead of the national competition.

"Their dedication and hard work has paid off, as they have successfully overcome challenges and obstacles during the design and testing phases," said teacher Conor Power.

The team members are excited to showcase their innovative design and technical expertise at the national finals, where they will compete against other teams from across the country. They also hope to inspire other young students to pursue their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Speaking about the competition, team member Nathan said: "We are thrilled to have made it to the national finals, and we are excited to show what we have achieved. It has been a challenging but rewarding experience, and we have learned so much from it. We hope that our success will encourage more students to get involved in STEM activities and pursue their passions."

The national finals of the CanSat competition will take place in Emo Court Hotel, County Laois.