The Regional Director for Science and Technology stated that first regional edition of CanSat "exceeded all expectations," highlighting the number of participating teams and the quality of the projects presented.

"The competition jury considered that microsatellites built by students evidenced a high level of perfection and precision," said Nelson Simões.

 The three teams that will represent the Azores at the national edition of CanSat, taking place on May 1-3, are ENTA - School of New Technologies of the Azores (Ponta Delgada), ESAQ SPACE SAT 1 from Antero de Quental Secondary School (Ponta Delgada) and Aerospace Time from Santa Maria Basic Education and Secondary School.

 In this first regional edition of CanSat competition, two honourable mentions were awarded to the SUNSAT team from Santa Maria Basic Education and Secondary School and the Searching Infinity team from Flores Basic Education and Secondary School.

 Integrated in the educational programme of the European Space Agency, CanSat Açores is a competition addressed at students attending secondary schools and vocational training schools, who are required to build a working model of a microsatellite.

 The Regional Director for Science and Technology considered that the first edition of CanSat Azores "was a success," emphasising that the initiative "provides a first practical approach to space technology and space sciences to Azorean students."
 
"Under the CanSat competition, students had the opportunity to become acquainted with the Azores Aviation Training Centre, where they participation activities related to aviation safety," said Nelson Simões.

 The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Science and Technology, supports the travel of two of the three selected teams that will participate in the national final. The third team will be supported by the Ciência Viva (Live Science) project.

 The first regional competition of the CanSat project took place last week on Santa Maria. It featured 16 teams representing 12 schools from six islands of the archipelago, involving the participation of 64 youngsters.