Brussels: The CanSat Belgium competition, organized under the European Space Agency (ESA) through ESERO, offers secondary school students the opportunity to design, build, and launch a miniature satellite the size of a soft drink can. The initiative connects classroom learning with real-world aerospace engineering, integrating science, technology, and teamwork in a practical setting.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this year, the European School III in Brussels is participating in the competition under the guidance of Cypriot physics teacher George Christofi. The team comprises eight students, including one Cypriot student, namely Juraj Prokopic, Aidan Troy Timourhan, Argyris Christoforou, Richard Hrous, Eliza Guteckova, Katerina Laderou, Olivia Grose, and Sophie Antonia Moreira.
The competition spans three days and includes several stages. Students initially develop and test their CanSat devices, which are launched to an altitude of around one kilometre before descending back to Earth by parachute. During the flight, the devices collect and transmit scientific data, which teams later analyze and present. Final evaluations are based on technical performance, scientific accuracy, and presentation quality, with winners advancing to the European final held annually in June.
According to Christofi, who spoke to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), CanSat is organized nationally in Belgium by three regional organizations under ESERO, which operates under ESA. He noted that Cyprus is now an associate member of the organization and could potentially develop its own national CanSat competition.
He emphasized that the program equips students with a wide range of skills, including programming, 3D printing, electronics, model design, and project management. He also highlighted the importance of teamwork, noting that each student has a defined role in order to successfully complete the mission. Beyond technical skills, the competition encourages responsibility, time management, and collaboration.
Students also benefit from interaction with peers from other schools and gain exposure to different approaches to scientific problem-solving. Christofi added that such experiences help students connect theoretical knowledge with applied science and develop professional discipline.
Student Argyris Christoforou described the experience as highly rewarding, noting that it helped him build new friendships and learn to balance academic responsibilities with project work. He explained that the CanSat device collects key environmental data such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure while also performing a secondary mission involving soil analysis through camera imaging.
Other team members highlighted their progress in coding, 3D printing, parachute construction, and electronics while also stressing the social aspect of the competition, which brings together students with shared interests and fosters long-lasting collaboration.