The Azores had two teams selected for the final of CanSat Portugal 2016 that will place at Santa Cruz Aerodrome in Torres Vedras on April 16 and 17.
 
The two Azorean teams that make up the group of 17 selected teams are "ENTA Team SAT2," School of New Technologies in Ponta Delgada, and "CanDrifters," Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School.
 
Among the 33 teams that competed for CanSat Portugal 2016, six are from Azorean schools: Tomás de Borba Basic Education School in Angra do Heroísmo, Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School in Horta (two teams), Flores Basic Education and Secondary School, and APRODAZ - Associations for the Promotion and Development of the Azores in Ponta Delgada.
 
The winner of the national competition will participate in the European CanSat 2016 competition to be held this year, once again, in Portugal from June 22 to 26.
 
CanSat Portugal is an educational project promoted the European Space Agency (ESA). This initiative is organised in Portugal by the Aerospace Centre of Torres Vedras Flying Club in cooperation with Ciência Viva - National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture with the aim of providing Portuguese students with a first experience in aerospace technology projects.
 
CanSat is a working model of a microsatellite in which all systems fit within a soda can. It will be launched by a rocket up to an altitude of 1000 meters so that, during the descent, it will possible to perform a scientific experience, which is to pick up the signals emitted (telemetry) and ensure a safe landing.
 
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology, through the Regional Director for Science and Technology finances all travelling expenses of the two teams during the national final of this competition.
 
The regional teams that have not qualified for the national competition will participates in regional edition of CanSat, which will be held during the Space Week on Santa Maria Island between October 4 and 10.