Introduction to CanSat

What is a CanSat?

A CanSat is a representation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can (330 ml). The challenge for the students is to fit all the major subsystems found in a satellite, such as power, sensors and a communication system, into this minimal volume. The CanSat is then launched to an altitude of a few hundred meters by a rocket or dropped from a platform, a drone or captive balloon, and its mission begins: to carry out a scientific experiment and achieve a safe landing.

CanSats offer a unique opportunity for students to have a first practical experience of a real space projects. They are responsible for all aspects: selecting its mission, designing the CanSat, integrating the components, programming the on-board computer, testing, preparing for launch and then analysing the data.

There different CanSat-kits

In this documentation three different CanSat kits have been described:

• The AAU version 3 CanSat kit
• The AAU version 6.2 CanSat kit
• The Andøya Space Education 2018 CanSat kit

The version 3 and the version 6.2 CanSat-kits are both based on an Arduino Uno board and a sensor shield board. The Andøya Space Education 2018 is based on a Teensy 3.5 and is programmed in the Arduino programming language like the other versions.

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators.

Here are some examples on Arduino projects:

• Make an automatic night light which switches on when its dark
• Intrusion alarm
• Thermostat
• Line Follower Robot
• Ham radio Morse code keyed/propagation beacon.
• Graphical calculator that graphs serial inputs on a graphical LCD.
• Wi-Fi controlled RC-Car

Many more ideas can be found at http://arduino.cc/playground/Projects/Ideas

Version 3 CanSat kit:

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The sensor shield card has been developed at the University of Aalborg by Professor Jens Dalsgaard Nielsen and Simon Jensen. The shield has been designed to include:

• Communication radio (APC220) with antenna
• Pressure sensor (MPX4115A)
• Temperature sensor (LM35DZ)
• Temperature sensor (NTC 10k)
• Three axis accelerometer ±3/9g (MMA7341LC)
• SD storage card (OpenLog)

You can find information, building instructions and a lot more for the version 3 CanSat here.

Version 6.2 CanSat kit:

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The sensor shield card has been developed at the University of Aalborg by Professor Jens Dalsgaard Nielsen and Simon Jensen. The shield has been designed to include:

• Communication radio (APC220) with antenna
• Temperature sensor (NTC 10k)
• a multiple sensor package GY-91, with pressure sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope
• MicroSD storage card (OpenLog)

You can find information, building instructions and a lot more for the version 6.2 CanSat here.

The Andøya Space Education 2018 CanSat kit:

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The Andøya Space Education 2018 CanSat kit is based on a Teensy 3.5 processor and includes an analogue temperature sensor and a digital sensor package GY-91.

You can find information, building instructions and a lot more for the Andøya Space Education 2018 CanSat here.