Our Mission

In the so-called CanSat-competition, students from all over Europe compete against each other constructing their own self-designed mini satellite. These CanSats' most special characteristic is that they have to be realised within the shape and size of a customary drinks can. They have to carry out a primary as well as a secondary mission and have to land safely.

The primary mission is the same for all participating teams. It includes measuring the air temperature for creating a temperature profile, measuring the air pressure and to determine the CanSat's height and descent rate.

Additionally, there is a secondary mission that has to be developed by each individual team. We have chosen to investigate whether there is water in any given atmosphere. This mission may help to answer one of the most thrilling questions of humanity: Is there life on other planets? Many space missions (e.g. to Mars) try to detect water as a basis for life. On planets with an athmosphere, water could be detected sing the exact same methods as our CanSat.

To fulfil this mission, we measure the relative air humidity using a sensor and collect an air sample that is later analysed gas chromatographically.