Pipers Students Reach for the Stars at UK CanSat Competition

A team of aspiring Year 9 and 10 engineers from Pipers recently took part in the prestigious UK CanSat Competition, held at Westcott in early March. This unique aerospace challenge gathered over 250 students from 25 schools and colleges across the country, with more than 50 teams launching their self-made satellites aboard 32 rockets.

Organised by ESERO-UK (European Space Education Resource Office, UK) and facilitated by Launch Access Ltd, the UK’s leading provider of educational rocket launch services, the CanSat competition gives students hands-on experience in real-world space engineering. Teams are tasked with designing, building and launching miniature satellites—known as CanSats—packed with sensors, power systems, and communication technology, all within the size of a soft drink can.

Our Senior School students on this challenge with enthusiasm, carefully selecting their mission objectives, assembling their CanSat, and ensuring all components were tested and integrated before launch day. Beyond the primary mission of measuring air pressure and temperature during descent, the team devised an innovative secondary mission inspired by real-world space exploration.

Once their CanSat was ready, the students launched it aboard a specialist rocket, designed to reach altitude before deploying its cargo. The team then collected and analysed the transmitted data, showcasing their ability to think critically and solve problems under real launch conditions. In addition to technical skills, the competition encouraged teamwork, resilience and creativity—key attributes for future careers in STEM.

Ben Jarvis, Chief Executive of Launch Access, highlighted the impact of the competition, stating, "We know that some students who had not previously considered STEM careers have gone on to work in engineering and science as a direct result of this experience. Events like these provide a glimpse into the exciting opportunities in the UK’s growing Space sector."

The UK CanSat Competition is part of a wider European Space Agency (ESA) initiative, running from October to April each year. Westcott hosted the first round of launches, with the competition finals set for April. The winning team will be invited to a European learning and celebration event organised by ESA.

We are immensely proud of our students for embracing this challenge and demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication. We look forward to seeing where their passion for STEM takes them next!