Khalifa varsity students make mini-satellite in US contest

Khalifa University students ranked 22nd at the recently held CanSat competition in Texas, the US. The team, which was sponsored by Yahsat and Mubadala, were required to design, build, test and launch a miniature satellite, the size of a soda can (CanSat).

The annual competition was organised by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

The competition requires students to complete an entire project: design, build and launch an operational CANSAT device. This includes integration and testing, actual operation of the system and a post-mission summary and debrief.

“We are very proud of our team. Not only did they complete all phases of the competition, including the technical inspection, on time, but they received the required telemetry, cleared the launch sequence, launched, and retrieved the CanSat whole,” said Dr Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University.

“What gives me perhaps the most pride, however, is that the students took the initiative in identifying this competition, developing their strategy for building their satellite and making it through qualifying procedures, and executing the project to its completion,” he added.

Commending the students’ high degree of analytical thinking and engineering skills, Tareq Abdel Raheem Al Hosani, CEO of Yahsat said: “The skills displayed by each individual throughout the event closely mirror those that power and guide the Yahsat team on a day-to-day basis. “Everyone at Yahsat is proud of their achievement at the competition and I hope the students feel a sense of pride and reward in their design.”

olivia@khaleejtimes.com