CanSat —
Satellite in a Can

Overview

CanSat is an international competition where student teams design and build a miniature satellite that fits inside a standard 330 ml soda can. The satellite is launched via a small rocket to an altitude of several hundred metres and must complete a primary mission during descent — collecting and transmitting atmospheric data in real time.

What I did

• Designed the custom PCB for the satellite's electronics using Eagle EDA
• Assembled and soldered all SMD and through-hole components
• Integrated sensors: barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, GPS, IMU
• Developed Arduino-based firmware for data acquisition and radio telemetry
• Designed and 3D-printed the structural enclosure to fit within the can dimensions
• Built a ground station receiver with live data visualisation
• Competed in the national CanSat Czech Republic competition

Tech Stack

Outcome

The team achieved 3rd place in the national CanSat Czech Republic competition. The satellite successfully completed its primary mission, collecting and transmitting atmospheric data throughout the entire descent.