Judges from the European Space Agency were so impressed by a simulation satellite built by 16-year-old students from Felsted School that it was chosen as one of ten finalists in a national competition.
Teams of young scientists from more than 200 schools and colleges across the UK were challenged to build a CanSat – a real satellite the size of a soft drink can. The Felsted students designed a CanSat capable of transmitting altitude, air pressure and velocity, using a micro-computer and sensors, to a base station on the ground, then landing and creating an ecosystem.
‘Our students designed and built the CanSat themselves, then rocket-launched it up to the troposphere to test it, and it has stood up very well,’ explained Martin White, Teacher of Computer Science at Felsted School. ‘A parachute ensures it comes back down to earth safely and, once there, a robotic arm extends to plant seeds in the ground nearby and then water them.’
‘The most challenging part of the project was adding the RFM9X component to the circuit and adding the Adafruit Ultimate GPS breakout to get a fix to the satellites above the school at the time,’ added Felsted student Lois P, ‘but we overcame it by using our time and concentration with the assistance of the silver alloy solder as well as using single strand wire’.
‘The competition is very prestigious, and these finalists are considered among the best young computer scientists in the UK,’ said Chris Townsend, Head at Felsted School. ‘It is very impressive that our young competitors have beaten projects created by students much older than themselves to reach the national final. They should also be immensely proud of themselves for achieving an Industrial Cadets Gold award for their work on this project .’
The UK Final of the European Space Agency CanSat Competition 2023 took place in April at the National STEM Centre in York.
Felsted, a co-educational independent day and boarding school in North Essex, holds the Silver Science STEM Award, which recognises the school’s successful approach to developing skills useful for employment and life in general, including how to think critically and evaluate information, apply knowledge, conduct research and problem-solve. Indeed, Felsted’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art (Creativity) & Mathematics) successes span the age range from the Primary Gold Quality Mark for Science recently achieved by the Prep School, to the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship secured most recently by a Sixth Former.
Categories: Felsted School School News
