CanSat
An Ireland-based space engineering competition where student teams design, build and launch a miniature satellite inside a drinks-can-sized structure. Open to Transition Year and senior-cycle students through participating schools. Rated Advanced Level, with difficulty mainly coming from electronics, programming, engineering design, teamwork and mission testing.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Advanced Level
5 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
15–19
School level
TY and Senior Cycle (second-level) or equivalent
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Team design/build, mentoring, national competition, then ESA international event for national winners
Fee
Not yet announced by the organiser
Online / in-person
In-person
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
1 Sept 2026
Registration closes
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition starts
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition ends
Not yet announced by the organiser
Editorial perspective
Our Take
CanSat Ireland compresses a space mission into an object the size of a drinks can. Teams have to integrate power, sensors, communications and a recovery system, then operate the device during a launch and descent. The required measurements of air pressure and temperature provide a common technical baseline, while the secondary mission gives each team room to choose a more ambitious question or capability. That structure is what makes the competition valuable. A sensor that works on a classroom desk is not enough if the radio link fails, the enclosure breaks, the parachute behaves unpredictably or the team cannot turn transmitted readings into a defensible analysis. ESERO Ireland supports participating schools with a starter kit, introductory training, mentoring and access to partner colleges, but students still need to make the systems work together. CompeteMap sees CanSat as a strong choice for TY and Senior Cycle students who want engineering to feel consequential. It suits mixed teams because mechanical design, coding, electronics, scientific analysis, documentation and presentation all matter. The main trade-off is commitment: this is not a one-afternoon build. A good team needs repeated integration tests and must be willing to treat failures as mission data rather than as embarrassment.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
ESA CanSat 2025–2026 Challenge Overview
Open resource ↗Official overview of the 2025–26 challenge and progression through national competitions; use it to understand the wider pathway alongside the technical modules.
Official · Free · Challenge and competition pathway overview · Recommended
Getting Started with CanSat
Open resource ↗ESA module on sensors, electronics, voltage dividers, data collection and soldering.
Official · Free · Technical learning module · Essential
Meet Arduino!
Open resource ↗CanSat-focused introduction to Arduino, C++, circuits and atmospheric measurements.
Official · Free · Programming and electronics module · Recommended
Communicating with Radio
Open resource ↗Module on protocols, radio programming and antenna construction for telemetry.
Official · Free · Radio and telemetry module · Essential
ESA CanSat Classroom Resource Collection
Open resource ↗Learning sequence linking primary mission, Arduino, radio and parachute modules.
Official · Free · Resource collection · Recommended
Source information
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