The Gransat IV squad from IES Granadilla de Abona has clinched the top spot in the IV CanSat Canary Islands Contest, a competition involving simulations of actual satellites resembling the size and shape of a soft drink can. The event took place in the Gran Canaria locale of Santa María de Guía.
The task was to incorporate the main satellite subsystems (such as power supply, sensors, and communication systems) into this confined space. Prior to the launch, the participating youngsters were responsible for designing, developing, and testing their respective devices. Following the launch, they oversaw their functionality and analysed the data collected.
For this purpose, a drone hoisted the CanSats to a specific altitude, releasing them to descend with the aid of a small parachute. During the descent, the students had the sole window to retrieve and scrutinise the emitted data, all aimed at showcasing the capabilities of the young individuals to accomplish the mission.
CanSat is an initiative of the European Space Agency welcoming participation from students across all member nations. In Spain, this initiative is spearheaded by the European Space Education Resource Office in Spain (ESERO Spain) and the Granada Science Park. The CanSat Canary Islands 2024 Regional Competition received support from the Ministry of Education.
The Granada unit, under the guidance of Professor Félix Jonay Mayoral Gutiérrez, is set to represent the Canary Islands in the upcoming national competition scheduled for May 16 and 17 in Murcia. The team comprises of Carlos Cano, Nerea Risco, Aminata Fall, Samuel Fuentes, Miguel Stiven Cárdenas, Saúl Guanche, Fayna Luis, Almudena Cruz, and Lucía Martín.
In preparation for the competition, a segment of the team journeyed to Zaragoza where they launched their project using a helium balloon to elevate it to the stratosphere, reaching an altitude of 32,768 meters. There, they crossed paths with the Argonautex unit from IES Viera y Clavijo. Both teams are at the forefront of aerospace robotics at a national level.
The Gransat squad, receiving guidance from the Alisio-1 team of the IAC who developed the inaugural Canarian satellite, captured various images that will undergo analysis using artificial intelligence for early identification of water resources aiding in an efficient response to wildfires.
