AeroTerra
Introducing AeroTerra
What is CanSat?
A CanSat is a small, educational satellite-like device designed to fit inside a soda can. It is used in STEM education to teach students about aerospace engineering and space science. CanSats carry payloads, are launched into the atmosphere, transmit data, and often have parachutes for safe landings. Organised by the European Space Agency, They provide hands-on experience in space-related fields and are used in competitions and educational programs globally.
Our mission is inspired by the ExoMars ESA mission, carrying the Rosalind Franklin rover, which is planned to launch in 2027. The purpose of the mission is to address the ongoing unanswered question, if life has existed on Mars. The rover is meant to extract samples from the soil. The rover was planned to launch to space in 2022. Simultaneously, the Mars Sample Return mission by NASA represents a pinnacle of scientific ambition, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and cutting-edge technology in retrieving and analyzing samples from distant worlds.
What inspired us?
What is our mission?
Our team's plan for the secondary mission is for the CanSat to extract a sample from the ground once it lands. We are planning on doing so by creating a mechanism which deploys a spinning 'shuriken' looking tool, collects a sample from the ground, and retracts the probe back into our CanSat. After doing so, we are planning on analysing the sample, which could potentially involve testing for pH, moisture content, as well as chemical content (testing for oxygen and carbon dioxide).