The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology welcomed today the victory of ENTA SAT2 team, School of New Technologies in Ponta Delgada, in the national CanSat competition. He also congratulated the team of Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School, Faial Island, for its performance in the competition.
 
The ENTA SAT2 team won the National CanSat competition held this weekend in Torres Vedras, which featured the participation of 15 teams. It will represent Portugal in the European final to be held in June, also in Torres Vedras.
 
Fausto Brito e Abreu highlighted the "importance" of these competitions to "stimulate young people's interest in the field of space and encourage their desire to pursue studies in this area."
 
The Regional Secretary recalled that one of the Azorean Government's goals has been "the promotion of scientific and technological dissemination as well as experimental teaching of sciences in the Region," adding the support to initiatives that will "bring Azoreans, especially youngsters, close to scientific knowledge," such as the case of CanSat.
 
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. The construction of a working model of a microsatellite is the main purpose of this initiative.
 
This microsatellite, about the size of a soda can, is launched by a rocket up to an altitude of 1000 meters so that, during the descent, it will possible to perform a scientific experience in order to pick up the signals emitted (telemetry) and ensure a safe landing.
 
The Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology, through the Regional Directorate for Science and Technology financed all travelling expenses of the two teams during the national final of this competition.
 
Since last year, the Region has organised regional edition of CanSat. The second edition is scheduled for May on the island of Santa Maria during a week dedicated to space, which also includes exhibitions and lectures on the subject as well as field trips to RAEGE and solar and night observations sessions by OASA.
 
The regional teams that have not qualified for the national competition will participate in CanSat Azores 2016, which will also include three guest teams: School of New Technologies of the Azores, Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School and Antero de Quental Secondary School.
 
The Azores already have some tradition in space technology competitions. In 2013, a team from Santa Maria Island won the European CanSat competition.