A Dream of Space Grown with a Single Can... Can Satellite Experience and Competition Held

Ministry of Science and ICT-KAIST, Participant Applications Open from April 12 to May 17

▲Can Satellite.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 12th that they will hold the ‘2021 Cansat Experience and Competition’ to enhance teenagers' understanding and interest in space.

Started in 2012 and marking its 10th edition this year, this competition allows teenagers to directly build a Cansat, a can-sized simulated satellite, and experience the satellite development process. It consists of an ‘Experience Camp’ providing satellite education and Cansat building practice for elementary and middle school students, and a ‘Competition’ where high school and university students plan, develop, and launch Cansats to compete.

The Experience Camp is open to teams (2-3 students and 1 supervising teacher or guardian) of 5th grade elementary school students or older. A total of 30 teams will be selected and provided with the camp expenses and basic Cansat kits free of charge.

The Competition is divided into the High School Division and the University Division, and teams (2-3 students, including 1 supervising teacher for high school students) can apply.

Each division selects 20 teams through the first document screening, and then 10 teams through the second presentation evaluation. The teams selected in the first round receive basic Cansat kits, and those selected in the second round receive additional mission implementation funds.

The final 10 selected teams will participate in the main competition held at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Aviation Center (located in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do), where their technical skills, mission performance, and data analysis abilities will be evaluated.

Based on the evaluation results, the top team in each division (one team each) will receive the Minister of Science and ICT Award, while excellent teams (two teams each) and encouraging teams (two teams each) will be awarded the KAIST President’s Award and the KARI Director’s Award respectively, along with prize money and trophies.

Last year, the ‘Kkangtong-ui Kkum’ team from Chungbuk Science High School, which performed an attitude control mission using a reaction wheel, and the ‘Sat-Afa’ team from the Air Force Academy, which carried out a reconnaissance micro-satellite technology demonstration mission, received the Minister of Science and ICT Award.

Detailed information including the schedule can be found on the competition website, and applications are accepted through the website from today until July 17. After document screening, online education, presentation evaluation, experience camp, and pre-education, the competition will be held on August 4-5, with the final ranking announced on August 13.